Time for rest

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I'm about to start my two week holiday. I'm starting to feel a little tired so I'm glad I'll get to recharge, reflect and of course eat lots of yummy food. It's so easy to get caught up with the minutiae of life, forgetting that in fact you just need a change of scene and a whole lot of me-love to get back on track. I hope that you're going to find space this summer to breathe in some different air and look at life in a fresh light. 

Take care and I'll be back soon. xox

'poo free barnet

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Don't worry, I'm not banging on about that type of poo again. I'm sure you've heard that it's possible to not wash hair at all other than the odd rinse with plain old water and that eventually hair cleans itself. Most of us, I imagine, shudder at the idea of getting to that point. I hear hair pongs during the process and I can only imagine the greasy stage would be horrendously unattractive.

I've just discovered a blog called Simple Mom which I already heart big time. Here are instructions on making the transition to shampoo and conditioner free hair. This natural living hair trend is known as 'poo free. You can wash your hair with baking soda and then rinse with apple cider vinegar or lemon. It sounds totally do-able, so I'm going to try this out and let you know how I get on. I relish the thought of no more shampoos and conditioners, because the natural ones don't tame my hair as much as I'd like them to and whichever shampoo I use, I find that my hair becomes oily and in a real need of a wash within 48 hours. 

If you're breaking a sweat daily then it's hard to resist washing all the sweat out afterwards, so finding an alternative to dirty chemicals is a tres good idea. 

You will find excellent information here on why 'poo isn't doing you any favours and lots of tips on the natural method including herbal remedies and natural styling ideas. Love it. 

Are you up for this challenge? Do you have any naturally beautiful hair tips to share? 

Update: I tried this a few times and my hair looked OK, but it didn't feel clean and it was very light so that my layers weren't hanging as heavily as I'd like them to. I had a hot date to prepare for, so I kinda had to give up. Maybe I'll try again if I move into a commune where everyone focuses on, like, what's on the inside. 

Bedtime routines

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I believe the healing power of sleep is often neglected in the quest for beauty and indeed  the good life. The best thing about sleep is that it's free. And it's likely to do more for you than expensive potions can. Of course, ideally you'll be sleeping well and finding time to give your skin some love, but sleep is the ultimate priority. 

There are many who claim that due to hormone repair, sleeping in the evening before midnight will help you drop unwanted fat. There have been studies which show that people who go to bed simply eat more in a day and at less appropriate times, simply because they're awake for more hours.

It can be hard to wind down after a manic day, so here are my suggestions for a bedtime routine. Like everything concerning health and beauty, discipline creates freedom:

* Give yourself an absolute shut off point. For example, I tell myself I must be ready for bed by 10.30 p.m and at an absolute push, 11 p.m. Ideally though, you'll be ready to sleep about 30 minutes before your cut off point, so that you can rest your mind and shut down a noisy brain. 

* Finishing a healthy evening meal and clearing up afterward should signal the end of eating for the day. There is no need for late night snacks. If your body is working to digest food eaten late at night, your sleep won't be as peaceful.

* I suggest no caffeine or alcohol in the evening for a deep sleep. 

* Don't underestimate the power of a calming evening ritual. This is all about you making your world beautiful. Take the time to do the things you'd like to get done each day. It might be having a quick tidy, working on affirmations, facial massage, yoga stretches...ensure that your day ends in the way you want it to. Remember you can be who you want to be if you just get on and do it.

* Remove make up and floss etc before you're too tired to take care over it. Treat yourself lovingly. 

* Prepare for tomorrow. I recommend a 'tomorrow chair' where you can dump everything you need for the next day. It's not going to appear in House & Garden anytime soon, but if you're organised, who cares? Rather than rushing around finding your pashmina, shoes and keys in the morning, leave everything you'll need together in one pile. 

* Prepare food for the next day. Leftovers are a great money and time saver. I cook a big quantity of brown rice and refrigerate it. That way I have a base for lunch salads. By packing nuts, carrots and cucumber to snack on, you save yourself from buying sugar laden crap the next day. 

* Enjoy your time selfishly. I know this is harder for those who have children, but to be able to give graciously to others, we need to replenish with some down time. 
* Worries on your mind? Lots to do? Keep a notebook for your handbag which contains short term lists. Make a note of the errands you need to run tomorrow and trust that you'll deal with them when tomorrow comes.

* Television and tweeting are not the kind of activities to lull you into a good sleep. So as good as those CSI repeats are, this is the time to enjoy  a relaxing soundtrack, to meditate or to read. Feed your mind and soul and you will sleep beautifully. 

* Place a bowl of water in the bedroom all year round to absorb humidity/eliminate stuffiness.

* Turn all lights, electricity and mobiles off. A small red/green light can interrupt sleep greatly. If you can, choose heavy curtains or black out blinds.

* You're in bed and sleep is on its way. This is the perfect moment to apply oil to your hands and feet. Olive, Primrose or Almond would be great. In fact, whatever you fancy. Soothing oil over your reflexes acts as a natural sedative. You can wear bedtime gloves and socks if you wish to protect your sheets, but in my experience, this technique doesn't damage bed linen.

Sleep tight. More tips on sleeping here

Poo tips

You were right first time - the topic today is about poo. If you're into alternative health and nutrition, I'm sure you'll have seen some amusing diagrams of poo characters. The bests ones are in Eat, Move and Be Healthy. 

Anyway, the point is that our poo can tell us a lot about our health and diet. Before I do any kind of treatment I consult my client on their lifestyle and general health. We talk about their sleeping and eating habits, and so many of them go on to tell me that they have bowel issues. It may be constipation or diarrhea and is often a combination of the two. 

It's not at all uncommon to have poo problems due to our frenetic lifestyles and processed foods. We eat a lot of different types of food combined in one sitting. It's not really surprising that it causes gas and that we can be intolerant to some types of food, considering how much it can be processed. Pesticides don't help either.

There are some who say that intolerances are imagined and the delusions of self absorbed and neurotic people of the noughties. Well, I know from experience that my own intolerance to gluten and cow derived dairy is not a figment of my imagination. If you do have problems, it's so important to go to your GP so they can investigate and rule out anything really serious. If it turns out you are Celiac for example, eating gluten could damage the gut lining. Many people are diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). This seems to be the technical term used when there is no logical cause for your discomfort. The advice tends to be to work towards a relaxed lifestyle and to experiment so that you can avoid triggers. I have IBS so I completely empathise with anyone who has it.


I'm not a medic, so I can't diagnose anyone, but I can suggest the following if you're having bowel issues: 
* See your GP first. 
* Try eliminating different types of food such as gluten and dairy. 
* Try experimenting with your diet before seeing any expensive specialists. 
* Try cutting out alcohol and caffeine (this can make a big difference for some people).
* Figure out a way to be more relaxed. Lots of deep breathing, gentle yoga and regular massages can help. You don't need to pay a commercial price for a massage if you can't afford to. Massage swap with friends or visit your local training centre for discounted massage prices. 
* Eat slowly.
* Try colon hydrotherapy. 
* Try to be relaxed when you do a poo. According to Natalia Rose and indeed all colonic experts I've known, one ought to poo with the feet raised in a foetal position (as if squatting in the wild). Use a child's stool or prop your feet up on a bin. And breathe. 
* Starting the day with fruit only can be a good way to get bowels moving. 
* Juicing vegetables is also excellent but go easy at first. 


Notes on colon hydrotherapy - there are some medics who say the good bacteria is removed and so upsetting your natural balance. Some think a colonic is the perfect way to remove impacted waste. You'll have to make up your own mind, as it's a controversial issue. I find that a consultation with a colon hydrotherapist throws light on all sorts of matters. They are generally very adept at making healthy lifestyle suggestions. 

Your body will tell you how it feels after you've eaten. Making a record of what you ate and how you felt up to 24 hours afterward can be helpful. Once you're functioning at your best, not only will you feel so much more energetic, but your skin will be clean and your eyes brighter.

Onya to the rescue

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Now call me a cynic, but I don't like to be scare mongered about every single thing I eat/touch/drink because it's stressful. We know that stress is harmful, so I'd far rather encourage people to make space for themselves to breathe a little more rather than panic them about all the things they're doing that might be harmful.

I believe that as you start internal conversations (the ones where the words 'I love you' come into play) and employ organisation tactics to simplify your environment and lifestyle, it's a natural evolution to eventually start to prefer organic materials over synthetic ones, to want less rather than more and to value time to be still without the TV or an internal dialogue interrupting the flow. 

While you're on that journey, don't sweat the small stuff.

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But when you're ready, there are some products which make the transition to natural living easier. They aren't cheap, which is another reason why I don't like anyone to feel stressed about their current situation. But buy cheap, buy twice, generally speaking. 

If you want a shopping bag to stash in your handbag, Onya carry bags might just be what you're looking for. They're the chic alternative to being a walking advert for a supermarket. They are built to last and have that yoga lovin' vibe. 

If you're ready to change your water container over to stainless steel, Onya have a good range for toxin free drinking. 

While we're on the subject, isn't it about time water pumps returned to our streets? It would save us from buying water and wasting all that plastic. It might be worth e-mailing your local council to tell them how much you'd like the opportunity to drink free water while you're out and about. Then you can re-fill your Onya bottle as much as you want to. Lovely jubbly.

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Do sweat it

 

 Me pre-sweat at University Parks, about to be put through my paces. 

Fergalicious?...

If you want a hot bod for busting Fergalicious moves on the dance floor then it's a no-brainer to exercise regularly. 

Every now and then we get a little derailed, so we need to remind ourselves exactly why it's good to spend so much time sweating when we could be watching Corrie. 

So let's remind ourselves why we're sweating it

* Your girl crush works out. Yep. Definitely. Hot bodded women normally work for the bodies they have. There's a saying too, that at 30+ you have the body you deserve. So no more cheating.

* It's not just about fat busting. So when you're giving yourself the line that big is beautiful as you tuck into a dairy free ice cream, remember there's more to it than your hot bod. It's all the NHS standard too - lowering cholesterol and risks of heart disease. 

* Weight bearing exercise is soooo important for making your bones strong. Osteoporosis isn't fun or pretty, I've witnessed it with my own eyes. Swimming and cycling is not enough - you need to walk/run/dance/do yoga too. 

* You're naturally beautiful, so you want to stay that way. Sweating clears out your pores and brings out bacteria from within (it's stale bacteria which causes B.O, not sweat itself), so if you suffer from pimples, sweat them away. Make sure you cleanse afterward to finish the job off.

* As you exercise, blood moves around the body and supplies the important areas such as your hair and nails, which in turn promotes growth and a healthy appearance. Your skin will glow.

* Say 'buh bye' to orange peel as you tone up. General skin tone improves, particularly at the top of the arms where so many women have an uneven colour.

* When you're happy, your world is beautiful, so let those happy hormones carry you home.

Pre and post sweat tips

* Eat carbs pre-workout (let them digest for a few hours) such as fruit or veg. You may be able to eat half an apple 30 min before, it depends on your constitution. Eat protein post-workout.

* Eat within an hour of finishing the workout. This way your body metabolises the food quickly because it's still in fat burning mode.

* Hydrate while you exercise. If you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated. Post workout, go for nature's best. Coconut water is ideal due to the electrolytes it contains. Sup that (don't buy one with additives) or if possible, crack open a young coconut and drink the water. 

* Take a towel to the gym and use it to wipe your face and protect your hair from  those dodgy floor mats. You don't need other peoples' body oils in your barnet. Ensure that you use a clean area of the towel on your face so that you're not encouraging pimples to fester.

* Post workout is the ideal time to do all your exfoliating and pampering. A hot bath  with essential oils will help with the muscle ache. Your pores are  already open at this stage, so half the job is done.

Find a balance between rest and play. I'm not telling you to over do it - listen to your body and on the days when you are sore and tired, rest. Being kind to yourself is also a no-brainer.

Barefoot running

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I saw a barefoot girl jogging through my village in Oxford a few days ago. I'd assumed she was training for some kind of specific marathon challenge. I had no idea barefoot running was such a growing trend until reading about it yesterday. It's one of the few sports movements where nobody makes money out of the promotion of it. But of course there are many companies who are creating an almost barefoot experience: slimline trainers with a dainty sole. 

The benefits are supposed to be the ability to run using more motion in your feet and therefore less stress on the heels (which pound down a thousand times during a run with conventional trainers). This is taking MBT to the streets, or grass, or wherever you care to roam. 

Experts say that your feet will become more padded rather than ruined and that your shoe size may even decrease a little as your arches become more arched.

We've known that running barefoot on the sand has been a good cellulite buster for some time, and far more appealing in my humble opinion - sand is pretty sanitary by comparison. 

I imagine the best thing about this type of exercise is the feeling of being connected to earth, to enjoy the sensations of the elements underfoot. If you want to try this, the advice is to go easy in the beginning and pick a soft surface to start.

Is this one you're prepared to try? Would you be up for barefoot running in the rain or snow?! What about those pesky bits of gravel that hurt oh so much?

Fountain of Youth

I happened to catch the docu on Brucie last night and found it captivating. There were three elements which caught my attention. The first was that Bruce Forsyth's wife, Wilnelia, seems to be beautiful inside and out. Yes, she's got access to the best beauty treatments that money can buy, but she is also a model of decorum, serenity and kindness. Those are qualities that money can't buy. There is something so admirable about serenity. This is where all the inner work, meditation and breathing comes in, girls! 

The second thing I liked was that Bruce and Wilmelia's marriage has lasted for 25 years, despite a 32 year age gap. I applaud any couple who manage to navigate life's ups and downs with love and respect for one another. Thirdly, whether you watch the family shows that Bruce Forsyth presents or not (and I don't as it happens), you will probably agree that he is doing marvelously for his 80 years. 

Bruce was given the The Ancient Secret Of The Fountain Of Youth by Wilmelia's mother at the time of his marriage to Wilmelia. This book contains the Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation which are exercises that one should complete daily in a bid for healthy and beauty and (wait for it) everlasting youth. Bruce ensures he completes these rites daily and they seem to have done him a lot of good. I've read claims that health problems disappear as a result of doing these and that hair turned from grey to brown again, for example. It's easy to be sceptical, but just seeing the results in Bruce Forsyth is enough to inspire me to do them daily. What have you got to lose?

Images via here and here

Hydration, hydration, hydration

When I'm asked to name my top beauty tips, a few very important things come to mind. Namely eating well, sleeping well and drinking a LOT. I'm talking about water of course, rather than pina coladas. There are differing opinions about whether caffeine is a good stimulant to include as one of your liquids in a healthy diet. There are fitness experts who say a cup of coffee or tea a day (if it's organic with a dash of say, organic cream) does wonders for metabolism, but there are bad sides to this wake up drug too. Here's an overview:

*Tea and coffee stain teeth. Tea is the bigger culprit, you might be surprised to learn, but both contribute to making your pearlies less, well, pearly. Berries (superb antioxidants) are also very efficient at discolouring teeth. Whilst I don't suggest emitting them from your diet, it could be better to blend them and drink them through a straw to save your teeth.
*Caffeinated drinks can cause halitosis. Energy drinks included.
*Caffeine acts as a diuretic, causing increased urination and therefore dehydration.
*Tea and coffee can cause the skin to look dry and lined, or a grey pallor.
*Caffeine is a stimulant and can heighten problems for anyone with a nervous disposition.
*Caffeine can act as a laxative and causes problems for those already suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In my experience many people suffer IBS symptoms to some extent.
*Carbonated caffeine drinks (not just the ones which are marketed as energy drinks) leach vitamins from your body. The aspartame used to sweeten these drinks has been linked to cancer. In addition, if you choose a sugar version you have the sugar high and low to deal with too.
*People come to me for a massage and tell me that they have sleeping problems. Caffeine interferes with sleep patterns and some people find they are sensitive to even a tiny amount in their system.
*There have been studies suggesting that cancer is linked to cancer.
*Caffeine is addictive. The more you drink, the more you feel you need. It's not ideal to be dependent on any stimulants.
*There are studies which indicate that coffee is a good thing - one study showed a lowered risk of cancers and brain tumors, however this result tends to be when coffee is combined with exercise or prepared in a particular way.
*Some say that coffee reduces the calcium content in your body which can contribute to osteoporosis. 
*As with anything it's better to go with the organic and freshly ground option if you can, because the more processed coffee is, the less likely you are to benefit from any potential benefits. 


There are conflicting views about the safety of coffee as with almost everything we consume or breathe, but I think it's worth:
a) exercising caution and not relying on it heavily. 3 cups absolute maximum. 
b) listening to your body and observing how you feel immediately after and 6 hours after drinking tea and coffee. We are all different and if you feel OK after a cup, you may be able to handle it better than others.
 

For those who feel jittery, dehydrated, anxious and unable to sleep after a caffeine fix, the easiest way to feel better is to just stop drinking caffeinated drinks. Period.

After a holistic treatment of any kind I advise my clients to avoid caffeine and alcohol, to be kind to themselves and try to rest. Much in the way that we operate during a detox. If you feel good when your body is clean, why pollute it all over again? Learn to listen to your body as it will give you many of the answers you need.

If you'd like to rule out coffee, here are some suggestions for alternatives:
*Lemon in hot water is a refreshing way to start or finish the day. Tess Daly swears by this. On waking you will be dehydrated, so hitting a coffee first thing isn't ideal.
*Try to pause before you start breakfast. It may be that your body confuses hunger with thirst first thing. Stretch a little on your yoga mat if you have one, breathe and enjoy a few glasses of water before you break your fast. 
*Try to choose nutrient dense foods as these will contain a lot of water. Starchy, salty processed foods are going to dehydrate you.
*Build up an assortment of lovely herbal teas so that you can choose according to your mood and the time of day. There is something delightful about the ritual of 'self medicating' with a soothing blend to wind down at the end of a long day.
*To save money and packaging, try visiting a tea shop so that you can choose loose tea. I buy my teas here in Oxford. Mighty Leaf stocks beautiful loose teas which are a sensual pleasure to enjoy. The berries and leaves look so pretty and are perfect for entertaining friends with. You can prepare a lovely gift by finding a pretty tea caddy and filling it with loose leaves.
*There are caffeine-free teas and coffees but I've heard some negative views on the processing and again, links to cancer. Bush tea is a great caffeine free option, delicious alone or with rice or soya milk. This is a good option for those who need the ritual of a 'builder's tea'.
*Drink LOTS of water during the day. You can add something live to the water such as a piece of fruit to purify it. Lemon or MSM can be added too. Consuming a lot of lemon can upset some women down there, so go easy at first.
*White teas are full of antioxidants but do contain caffeine so go easy on them in the latter part of the day.
*If you're the sporty type, you'll know that most sports drinks are full of nasties your body doesn't need. The juice of a young coconut is the best sports drink nature can provide. Vita Coco is big right now and contains five key electrolytes.
*Enjoy lots of watery fruit and veg like celery, cucumber and melon. You can eat them as they are, juice them or make a yummy fruit smoothie. Eat your way to gorgeous skin.

Isn't this a calming sight? Namaste.

Images via here and here.

Love yourself

Did you tell you I love you today? Don't stop the internal work because it never ends. 
  

You are beautiful.

You are lovely.

You are loved.

Martin de Maat was an artistic director and teacher of the arts. He believed in positive affirmations and greeted his students with a hug. What an amazing guy to know. Here are some of the beautiful affirmations which he gave to his students: 

• "You are pure potential."

• "You have the right to follow your dreams. I'm giving you permission to follow your dreams."

• "Let's try and create scenes that are about something deeper than this ashtray."

• "The Hokey Pokey. Think about it. At the end of the song, what do we learn? What is it all about? You put your whole self in!"

• "You know what intimacy is? It's into-me-you-see."

• "No one will ever follow you down the street if you're carrying a banner that says, 'Onward toward mediocrity.'"

• "You do not have the right to choose to feel inadequate."

• "I do not give you permission to fail-- I'm giving you permission to follow your dreams."

Find a few affirmations which really speak to you and put them on your desk, above your bed or on your kitchen notice board. Say them over and over. 

You are pure potential. I promise you that.

Nasal hair trimming

But I'm a lady! Yes, even you...

 Via

Ever since seeing an unkind close-up of Emma Thompson in a magazine with an accompanying commentary noting that her LA latter day look (gorgeous tanned skin, white teeth, glossy mane) was somewhat ruined by having – you guessed – visible nasal hair, I’ve been a convert to nasal hair trimming.

My friend Kimberley laughs at me banging on about my nasal trimmers, but it really is important to do this. Buy yourself a battery run nasal trimmer (about £12 generally, I bought the model above in Superdrug) and every fortnight or so, run over the hairs around the lower part of your nostrils. Don't go too high with the trimmers as some of the internal hairs are needed as protection from dust and pollution.

Nostril hair-trimming requires some strange inside-out nose manoeuvres and I'll admit this isn't one you'd like the boy to know about, but it takes just one minute and leaves one looking ‘cleaner’ in the face somehow. It's not all glamour y'know.

What men think is hot

When I posted Bill Nighy's take on style last week it got me wondering what men really do think is stylish or attractive. We take our dressing inspiration from designers who are often women or gay men, designing garments for an androgynous shape that many of us can't begin to achieve.

I asked some of my male friends what they think is hot on a woman (we're talking about first glances here, before they get to find out if a woman has a really kind heart, great personality or a brain to challenge Einstein). I've always thought men liked different things on different occasions (the handsome woman to marry, the dumb blonde to lap dance for them and the one-that-got-away to dream over) - I'm being facetious but you get my drift. Here are the results I got: 

First I asked Mr Blue: what is hot on a woman?

Anything that suggests the girl doesn't take herself too seriously - so I tend to prefer
casual looks. I like what other people may find very boring - just nice dresses, stylish tops worn with good quality jeans etc...
Another casual look i quite like is the 'All Saints' look, i.e. very baggy, almost hip-hop style trousers worn with a nice top of some kind.

OK, so what's not hot, Mr Blue?
Girls who get far too dressed up (and high heels that are FAR too high!) and generally look like they mega fuss over how they look....it suggests too much vanity and that they define themselves by how they look - and personally i just find it a real turn off...lots of tatoos on arms etc / mega scruffy / grungy / biker. Not a good look....yuck!

I find it attractive when people seem genuinely comfortable in their own skin and have accepted who they really are (including their faults) and are not desperate to get approval...    

Raf said:

I like the tomboy look personally...what NOT to wear: scarves. Unless its really COLD and they're actually needed. You may think they look cool and stylish, but you'll never hear a guy say "oh she looks great in that scarf".
 

David said: 

A pair of baggy trousers and a short top showing a bit of navel. Mmm!! On a similar line, love the snowboard chick look. Both give the feel of sexy but active....not too much make up. Overly tanned is not good, slightly sunkissed looks way hotter.

Bad - white jeans, Ugg boots, DMs, hoop earrings, lip or nose piercings.

Good - natural and relaxed, the whole country windswept look.
 

Mark said:
Short summer dresses in summer (obviously) and winter would involve a bloke's hoodie, which in no way makes me odd. I also like geek chic.

Matt said:

Well I love 'Snog, marry, avoid?' and they generally do a great job of
de-slut-ti-fying the poor unfortunate people that appear on the show; less make-up, less fake tan and more stylish outfits go a long way to helping hotness.

This time of year I love the summer dresses and I consider it a better answer than crotchless knickers and a French maid uniform.

Kit said:
Maxi dresses make a woman look absolutely ravishing. 
 

Interesting stuff - I would have thought (no offense guys), that the All Saints look is pretty nineties and old hat. I wonder if that's to do with the age of the guys I asked - All Saints would have been the poster girls during the latter part of their puberty. Maybe we hang onto certain ideals which are formed at important moments in our lives. At the height of All Saints' success, the naval was eroticised in fashion more than it is now.
 

All the guys seemed to prefer understated and tomboyish over fussy and high maintenance and they all agreed with the less is more approach.

What is initially attractive may change as a relationship progresses: "When a man is in love, what he finds really attractive is the feeling that he's seeing you for who you truly are," explains Scott Haltzman, M.D., author of The Secrets of Happily Married Women. "To a guy, the makeup, the sexy outfit, it's all a mask. He wants the woman behind the mask. Openness, vulnerability, an air of contentment — those things are what really turns him on."

Who are we dressing for? The male gaze? For other women? Or ourselves? I'd love to know what you think.

MSM

A girlfriend of mine who is obsessed with nourishing and growing her long dark swish swish hair absolutely swears by MSM supplements. MSM can come in capsules or a raw powder form which you can add to a juice, food or water, although the taste can be bitter. MSM can 'restructure' water, enhancing the purity. Other benefits are:

*softer skin, nails and hair
*promotes hair growth (handy after a bad hair cut, I've used it in this kind of emergency)
*energy levels increase due to cell walls becoming more permeable
*helps eliminate toxins
*combined with vitamin c helps the body build new cells
*helps with inflammatory diseases such as arthritis
*relieves constipation
*can help reduce scars and wrinkles
*can help to eliminate allergies

As with all supplements, exercise caution and consult your GP. There is of course a wealth of information out there and it can be hard to know if you're buying the purest forms. Information here should help.

Body brushing

Body brushing is a cheap and easy way to refine skin and especially helpful prior to baring all in a bikini. For a peachy bottom, body brush every day before your shower or bath. The only time I'll let you off is when you have a fresh fake tan on, as brushing will remove dead skin cells.

My clients love this before a wax or massage. Start at the feet and work in circular motions, always towards the heart, avoiding the delicate breast and neck area. At the thighs and buttocks, brush in an upwards and outwards motion. This gets the blood going and sloughs off dead skin cells. Dead skin cells look like cornflakes under a microscope and cling onto your skin. That's why that post exfoliation feeling is so good. Even better, exfoliating promotes skin cell renewal.

Natural fibres on a body brush are important but there's no need to buy an expensive one. You should be able to find one for under £10.

Image via

Girl crush - Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth in her kitchen.
We know that Gwyneth's an exponent of healthy living and has always been honest about the fact that she works hard to maintain her great shape (yay to celebs being honest!), so here is is the proof that clean living pays off. I can't wait to read Gwyneth's cookbook, My Father's Daughter, out next month.

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Poster heaven

I'm having a bit of a poster moment as I'm in the process of choosing inspiring material for my office. I've been following Made by Girl for a while now and it's always a sweet way to spend a moment of suspended reality. A feast for the eyes because it's so darn pretty. Jen at Made by Girl is beautiful and a seriously talented designer.

I heart...

Good question

Found this via beautiful Slumber Designs and I think it's a very good question to ask. A great way to think about our behaviour and lifestyle. It can be worth using a similar tactic when you're not sure you can pull a quirky outfit off. Ask yourself: 'if I walked towards me now, what would I think?' It gives amazing clarity. 

Gala Darling

Just discovered Garla Darling and I'm so excited by her fizzing content. I love her energy and happiness. She believes in self love in a big way too.
She posted an amazing letter to men by Christina Hendricks. Also discovered this poster via Garla. I think it's an uplifting, tongue-in-cheek piece to have on the wall.

Seafolly beach wear

I'm loving Seafolly bikinis right now. As our shape changes we need different things from our two piece. It's worth spending a bit more to get the right shape, cut and support.

What do you think of these cuties?

Bookworm

 Via

If you're a bookworm and unsure of which books to pack for your summer hols, check out books that changed my world on Twitter. My friend interviews might provide you with some ideas too. I asked each friend which three books they'd recommend for a holiday read. Reading is such a lovely way to be transported and lifted out of your own reality for a while. Self help books are invaluable when you're learning to self-nurture.

Organic food delivery

Working out a food shopping method that works for you is a big deal because it impacts on the amount of free time you have. I still visit supermarkets (or stupor-markets as they're called by Shazzie) for some household products and basics like dry herbs and olives, but I'm on a mission to reduce my time spent in them and to make the time I spend food shopping as economical as possible. For this reason I'm relying on Riverford more and more. Not all the produce is local, although they make every effort for it to be local and if not local, fair trade. Jake, the Oxford veg man, is really friendly and will stop and have a chat about the different vegetables, some of which look like aliens. It's good to feel part of a community.

I tend to buy a mini veg box, perhaps some additional fruit and then fridge staples such as lemon, garlic and ginger. I base my cooking around whatever vegetables I have and as a result I buy far less extraneous food.

I love the simple recipes by Jane Baxter. They come every week and you'll be given a little Riverford file for storing favourites. The Riverford cookbook is fab too. No intimidating terminology or exotic ingredients, just simple and easy to follow instructions.

Here's Jane's rhubarb and strawberry crumble:

 

2-4 rhubarb stalks, cut into slices 2cm thick
1 punnet of strawberries, hulls removed, large ones cut in half
165g plain flour
50g soft light brown sugar
150g rolled oats
125g unsalted butter

1.Place the rhubarb in a deep pie dish. Toss the strawberries with a tablespoon of the flour and add to the rhubarb. Sprinkle half the sugar on top.


2.Put the oats, butter and remaining sugar and flour in a food processor and pulse until the mixture starts to come together. Spread the crumble over the fruit and bake in an oven preheated to 180°C/Gas Mark 4 for 35–40 minutes, until the rhubarb is tender and the crumble is browned. Serve with delicious clotted cream – preferably from the Riverford Dairy.

Saturday Hotspots

When I visited my brother in Leamington Spa recently I was blown away by some of the very sweet shops and cafes. If you're looking for a day of shopping and eating out then I highly recommend a visit. 

I LOVE this shop, Cologne & Cotton. The website is as gorgeous as the shop itself. I want to dive into this image (above). The interior and layout is fab. I wanted to try out every beauty product in sight and to rest my head awhile on this bed...

Beautiful...

I love to see tidily folded bed linen like this.

Isn't this fabric sweet?

I love all the old fashioned packaging. So nostalgic and lady like.

Festival packing

I was a festival virgin up until last weekend. Well, that isn't strictly true, as I've worked at a few (I was in events and marketing prior to becoming a holistic therapist), but being 'staff' meant that I usually had access to VIP facilities and a marquee to sleep in, if not a hotel room nearby. 

I headed to Cornbury festival, which is incredibly civilised as festivals go, for my first taste of proper festival camping. My friend was playing the violin with a fab band called Borderville. I've become something of a groupie in the last few weeks. 

I asked friends for tips on what to take (I had my sights set on lashings of sun protection and baby wipes for emergencies). It seems I didn't know the half of it and this is the list I compiled from friends' suggestions: 

*ear plugs (de rigeur for sleeping in the early hours of the morning, but mine kept falling out)
*sleeping bag
*some kind of blow up bed (I got a hybrid blow up/ground mat from Millets which didn't need a pump and inflated itself a little bit)
*towel (it doubles up as a blanket)
*PJs
*underwear
*clothes which you can layer (summer dresses, leggings and hoodies work well)
*something warm for the night (don't underestimate how cold you can get after being exposed to the elements all day - a woolly poncho and some warm socks will be a treat)
*rain mac
*basic toiletries and make up (lashings of sun cream and bronzer for the healthy look)
*a small mirror that you can prop up
*torch with some string so that you can hang it up in your tent
*eye shield to protect you from the morning light
*alcohol gel
*loo roll or tissues (I took lots of small packets of tissues which I could keep in my handbag)
*pillow (I know it's not proper camping gear but if I could have carried one more item this would have been it)
*camera 
*handbag or bumbag which you can carry with minimum effort
*ibuprofen and immodium (just in case)
*wet wipes (I got through so many)
*plasters for flip flop induced blisters
*a sun hat or scarf
*bin bags (useful for rubbish and spills - my mouthwash spilled everywhere so I needed a spare bag or two)
*wellies if you think you'll need them (personally I find them really uncomfy to walk in)
*trainers (really helpful when you're walking a lot from camp to the main arena - my ankles really hurt from walking long distances in flip flops so I wish I'd taken some)
*a tent (pretty helpful) 
*a picnic blanket which you can carry easily (so glad I took one and it doubles as a pillow pretty nicely)

Via John Lewis

If you're a serious camper and taking a car, you can take way more than I did. We travelled by bike and train so I had to carry everything I took, but if I'd had a car I'd have enjoyed taking a full camping kit and lots of yummy food and drinks.  

Me (left) and Sue, reflexology buddy and talented violinist. I feel a festival is the perfect place to indulge my penchant for drawing hearts on my face (yep, it's supposed to be there).

Borderville on stage

I made the mistake of only taking flip flops for footwear. Luckily I found a beautiful pair of thick woolly socks hand knitted in Nepal, fair trade of course. : ) I'm looking forward to wearing them with uggs in the winter.

They kept my tootsies warm although my feet looked like hooves stuffed into my flip flops.

 A towel kept me warm while David Gray was on.

Cornbury festival is set in beautiful private grounds. Imagine jumping into this lake with Mr Darcy.