Give yourself a verbal hug

Via

Every now and then I gently remind myself where my focus should be. I'm lucky to have wonderful friends and family and I like to think I've equipped myself with the tools I need to be able to self-nurture. When I'm in doubt about which path to take, a few favourite quotes are usually the perfect medicine to send me in the right direction.

Right now I'm taking inspiration from the following: 

Mind your own business

And watch your business bloom

Shazzie

If it doesn't feel good, that's your instinct telling you to put your energy elsewhere 

Shazzie

Never make someone a priority if they consider you an option 

(source unknown)

The only thing that can grow is the thing that you give your energy to

Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's important to remember that whether you focus on negative or positive, the result will be the same - what you are focussing on grows. When we choose not to indulge in negativity, judgment and criticism, but instead to look inside and self nurture, we become more vibrant, self loving and ultimately able to offer far more goodness to others. 

Have yourself a joyous weekend and give yourself a little verbal hug with some good quotes.

When women tell stories with their bodies

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Personally, I love the tattoos which Peaches and Fearne sport (above). I like that they are eclectic, feminine, but not in a cliched way, and almost like diary entries or mood boards - evocative of the journeys their lives have taken.

I notice how many men say they don't find women with tattoos (or body piercings) attractive, and when I've asked male friends who don't like them what it is they don't like, they'll admit that tattoos suggest promiscuity and even 'dirtiness' to them. I find this interesting. Some of my male friends also tell me that when a woman takes drugs or admits to having done so in the past, again, they might see her as being promiscuous.

Part of me shudders to think about all of these implied judgements, but I can also understand why/how a conventional male (read two rules) might come to these conclusions. After all, drug taking is illegal, so it does give the finger to playing by the rules. Tattoos are seen to be rebellious; that's part of their appeal. It's about saying 'I'm different', right? 

I know I'm guilty of making assumptions about men and women based on their styling, cleanliness, quality of clothing, mannerisms, hair cuts and so much more, so perhaps I'm in no place to judge the judgmental. 

But I do love it when women tell a story without fear. For this reason I'm a fan of Tracy Emin's work.

Everyone I Ever Slept with {via}

My bed {via}

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When a woman speaks out or expresses what it is to be a woman; to love and lose; to make difficult decisions and more, I salute them for sharing with us and for not playing small.

I think this article on how society views women with tattoos is worth a read.

girl crush

Foxy Megan works wonders as the face of Armani. I heart those tattoos. Armani make up, which of course isn't organic, is bloody good at doing the job. I've used their face shimmer on shoots and at big events so can tell you it's marvellous on cheekbones and lips. As it's light reflecting, apply over fine lines - it's very pretty and fresh on the skin. Expensive looking and come hither all at once.

Armani Fluid Sheer 

 Images via here, here, here, here, here, here

A promise you can keep

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.

To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

"The Optimist's Creed" by Christian D. Larson, 1912

The Lady

The Lady interviewed Sarah on her tips for interior gorgeousness. I'm loving the idea of pink light bulbs which Sarah has promised me won't look too camp and will create an ambient and flattering shade of light. Perfect for romantic suppers or cashmere strewn boudoirs. 

Sarah is a big believer in comfort and practicality alongside style, so I consider myself incredibly lucky to have her on speed dial when I need a second opinion - I know Sarah will prioritise feeling good as much as looking good...it's all about having a happy heart. Here are the tips Sarah shared with The Lady.

 Sarah - one hot Lady - see what I did there?

Bespoke advice from acclaimed designer Sarah Berry

The nights are drawing in, the chilly weather has arrived again and we are all spending more time in our homes – the perfect time to think about how to make them even lovelier. At this time of year our thoughts should be turning to how to make our homes cosy and welcoming. We can achieve this simply and inexpensively by focussing on ambience; light some candles, switch off the overhead lights, turn on the lamps and draw the curtains. Layer up sofas with blankets and rugs and if you can bear it dig out the fairy lights and sprinkle them liberally – I'm going for self-indulgence here!

I Love...

Natural scents in the home. Cire Trudon candles (available at Liberty) are my preferred way of perfuming a home naturally. Free from petrochemicals, they are environmentally kinder than paraffin based alternatives, and when talking about the environment of your home, I can’t think of anywhere more important to be safe and free from such nasties.

Pink lightbulbs! I'm not channelling Barbara Cartland here, but what you'll achieve is the most perfectly flattering light imaginable. Replace your unflattering yellow bulbs with these and thank me later.

I loathe...

Plug in air fresheners. They don’t freshen the air, they simply exude a strong artificial, chemical smell that masks any other smell. Thoroughly unpleasant. Let’s consign them to the bin.

Down lights. There is a place and time for these recessed halogen beasties but let’s save them for task lighting, when we need to iron, hoover or find a contact lens. Pretty pendant lights, lamps (always on a five amp circuit) and candles should generally suffice, and when we do install down lights let’s do so with some discretion – no strips of them on a ceiling resembling a runway. Instead, make sure they are recessed, flush with the ceiling and as discreet as possible. And always on a dimmer please.

House to Home: transforming your home on a budget

A personalised gallery wall is a must in every home. Gather together a good selection of your favourite photos of family and friends and really have fun with this. They shouldn’t be too posed or perfect, the charm lies in the imperfection. First birthdays, tantrums, granddad in a deckchair, school plays, wedding photos, anything that you love.

 

When you’ve made your selection, take the photos to a local high street photo specialist and have the photos enlarged to as big as possible. You’d be amazed how large even really old photos can be made and still retain a good quality of image, and it usually costs only a few pounds per photo.

When you have your enlarged photos get them framed - either professionally or buy some inexpensive frames at Ikea or at flea markets and charity shops - and start mounting up your prints. You can choose just one type of frame or have an eclectic assortment or shapes, sizes and colours. A good tip is to always have a large mat (card surround) around the photo; it elevates it from family snap to art piece.

Then hang in a large group on the wall. The best way to do this is down to personal preference. I like to cut out templates in newspaper, making a note of the location of the hook on the paper with an x and blue tack them to the wall, moving and adjusting them as necessary. Then when entirely satisfied with the layout, I use a pencil to push through the paper onto the wall, marking the place for the nail.

This is a fabulous way to create a truly unique, individual gallery wall. It’s also great as a conversation piece, it’s inexpensive and it’s lots of fun.

Content and images via The Lady 

I've interviewed Sarah previously - see my earlier post: House Beautiful, for more of her loveliness. 

Rita Konig

My gorgeous friend and design blogger extraordinaire, Sarah Berry at quintessentially b, recently posted on a show home Rita Konig has designed for Manhattan House. I had to share because I thought you might heart these cosy images too. I want to hop into what looks like the perfect guest room and tell the host exactly how I like my eggs in the morning. See Sarah's post here for more yummy shots.

All images via the fabulous quintessentially b

Bossy boots is back

Portas with her wifey (via)

Don't forget that the fabulous bossy boots Mary Portas is back on our screens tonight. I do not tolerate poor customer service and wholly believe that the client is queen (or king). Apparently heads will roll. Hopefully in a holistic way where everyone, like, improves their karma.

This week I heart...

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I've fallen in love with glamour all over again having gone through a minimalist stage recently. Rita Hayworth is today's eye candy and inspiration. I love the delicate pose of her arm in this shot.

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For breakfast I heart Quinoa - a seed protein which is gluten free and healthy-living friendly. I boil it whilst I'm in the shower and let it soak whilst I moisturise. Then I throw on chopped dates (for sweetness), banana, chopped apple and blueberries. Sometimes I do dairy, sometimes I don't. This week I'm doing live yoghurt. 

I heart Rumer's voice - I can pretend it's Sunday every morning when I listen to this. 

 Me in bed (image: my own)

I heart waking up at 5.30 a.m - seriously, I'm finding it easier than waking at 7. Weird.

Via

I heart Kundalini Yoga with Maya Fiennes - before a relaxing aromatherapy bath. I love the soundtrack she created to go with this DVD. You get a free CD  which is restorative. Pop it on if you can find a 30 minute window to have a lie down on a busy day. 

I heart you - for reading and sharing with me.  Fanx xox

Smooth as a baby's bottom

 Via

One of the most beautiful things in the world is the touch (and yummy scent) of a baby's skin. Now you can have a face of the same texture for £2.54 - Waitrose's new bestseller is  baby bottom butter. I can't wait to try this on my skin - apparently this product creates a dewy look, soft pre-pubescent skin and plumps out fine lines. Waitrose removed parabens, petro chemicals and colours from their own baby range and have seen a huge surge in sales. Let's hope they have some left in stock as the hype for this baby is tres bien. 

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P.S This is really hard to track down I'm afraid - women have been bulk buying - so prepare for handbags at dawn.

P.P.S Despite the good hype, I found Colin's view interesting  - sometimes ignorance is bliss. 

The scary sweat

Via

I'm dedicating some time this month to dreaming. Otherwise known as visual exercises. I have a good idea of the things I want to achieve in 2011 but I'm settling into the year as one does with new stilettos - getting to grips with them before going in for the kill. By Feb I'll have an action plan drawn up. 

One of the things at the top of my list was to shake up my fitness regime. I cycle daily and I LOVE Body Attack. Like, obsessively. The music and choreography is awesome. But, doing a class in the middle of the evening gets in the way of supper, social plans and hobbies. Sometimes I've had to drop almost all other interests to accommodate my fitness classes. Now I'm not naturally an early bird but one of the things I will be doing this year is taking on things which scare me. Not silly scary, but sensible strategic scary. Getting up at 5.30 a.m is scary for me. But that's what I'll be doing twice a week on school days so that I can join my new Bootcamp pals in one of Oxford's beautiful parks. There is a 9.30 session on Saturday mornings too. That I can handle. 

The bonus with an early morning workout is that it's done for the day. It's much harder to workout in the evening especially if, like me, food is on your mind at that time. Bootcamp is set up to be like a pseudo personal training service. Although you're not busting a gut one on one, there is an elimination diet to start you off (for maximum results) and constant support when it comes to nutrition and lifestyle. Most importantly, George will kick my butt if I don't show up at stupid o'clock. 

George at Bootcamp recommends things I've banged on about before: no caffeine, booze, sugar or wheat. Lots of sleep and eating as close to natural as possible. I'm going to combine Bootcamp with yoga, the odd circuits class and belly dancing; a skill which is deffo on my 2011 wish list.

All fitness experts say it's essential to find something you enjoy. I don't know that I'm naturally well disposed to doing dynamic lunges in mud and sleet, but I do get a high by the end of the session and it definitely scares me being out of my comfort zone.

If you're thinking of joining a green gym/bootcamp/doing your own park workouts, here are my tips for packing your sports bag:

* plenty of layers - jumpers you can tie around your waist

* ear warmers. You will need them in winter and a hat would be too hot

* water galore - your skin is naturally beautiful

* post workout protein

* waterproof gloves

* cycling pants - tracksuit bottoms absorb the mud. Yuck

Which scary things are you taking on for 2011? Or two thousand and heaven as Gala Darling likes to call it. She really is a darling and I'm loving her work right now.

Swan lake on ice...not

Christmas already seems a while ago. I couldn't resist a Kidston theme to the festive table decorations. 

Yours truly on ice

Oxford's Port Meadow froze over at Christmas time. It was just gorgeous, so on Boxing day we dug out our skates and hit the ice. I wasn't quite the arabesque ice queen I might have imagined I'd be but it was so much fun. It was lovely to see families and their pets lost in the snow fun without there being a commercial angle. You can see my crappy skating skills below. Please excuse the cheesy giggle. 

: )

Baz Luhrmann

Hello beautiful, this makes sense.

Have a Goddess year

If you're still working on your dreams for 2011, this workbook come year planner might be the thing to help you focus. I just discovered this via this rather sweet website with all kinds of resources to inspire. I heart the idea of a workbook with prompts and projects. 

via

And just look at Goddess Leonie here - a true earth mama - what a pretty photo. So many interesting ideas on holistic living on her website...a feast for the eyes and soul.

 Via

Therapy?

I'm a big believer in therapy for coping with the big stuff in life. It's empowering to figure out the most powerful events in our childhoods which then impact on decisions and actions we take. When you know what the reasons are, you identify your trigger points. Then you have control and knowledge. You can choose to change and make healthy choices, or not. But at least you have a choice. 

I have just a couple of friends whom I would call really balanced. Women who seem to have been brought up in a healthy, caring, calm, financially stable and drama-free family unit. They are blessed indeed. The women I'm thinking of have healthy body images, high self esteem, they make sensible career decisions and choose kind men to invest their love and time in. Most of the people I know, however, tell a different story. 

They also had well meaning and loving people around them, but their younger years were peppered with divorce, financial calamity, arguments, abuse of some kind (emotional, verbal or otherwise), bullying, bad boys, a feeling of not being understood and of being very much alone in the world. 

Whilst I agree that forever victim status and woe is me living becomes tedious, everyone deserves the chance to face their demons, figure out where it went wrong and then decide for themselves that they are going to be their own best friend. As Amy Winehouse once said:

I can't play myself again

I should just be my own best friend

Not fuck myself in the head with stupid men

Wise words indeed. I like this piece by writer Emma Forrest. See if you can guess which celeb bad boy broke her heart. Dang it, I sound like a gossip journo. My point is that accomplished and talented people with loving families can push their 'suicide button' (that's my term for self destructive behaviour) as often as you or I. We're all fighting our demons, how about being your own best friend for 2011? You love you. Simple. 

Talisman

Having said I don't do silver near my face, right now I'm making an exception for the evil eye which the lovely Sarah gave me recently. I'm wearing it round my neck because I love the idea of wearing a talisman for luck and protection. It's the adult equivalent of having a care bear and a blanky safely tucked into your rucksack for emotional emergencies. 

Via

It's well worth finding something to focus on for protection from negativity. I've been wearing mine since new year. I had a horrible bout of flu just after Christmas. It was surreal and scary not being able to move my eyes or roll over without pain. As a result I'm now feeling incredibly grateful for my health and energy. I'm feeling positive and I want to stay that way. Wearing a talisman from a dear friend is my way of staying in this head space and letting go of the little things. 

Daisy, daisy, give me your answer do.

I'm half cra-zy all for the love of you. Gorgeous rings which won't break the bank are appealing. Particularly for me because I've managed to loose two beautiful and uber expensive rings in the last year having painstakingly chosen them in Spain. It's so silly, I took them off at the gym, popped them into a pocket of my bag and then lost the rings post-workout when I pulled them out with my keys in the dark car park. I couldn't see them anywhere and eventually decided perhaps it was meant to be. I try to be philosophical about losing things from the past. It can be like shedding skins. And one tries not to be too obsessed with the material realm, although it's darn hard sometimes. 

I've just discovered Daisy jewellery. First of all, what a cute name for a jewellery company, huh? Now I know it's all very lovely to have a one off piece of jewellery or something with a great story involving an eccentric great aunt or a generous beau and a day to remember in Central park, but if you lose rings in the foolish way I do, perhaps something charming and not overwhelmingly precious is the way to go. Here's my pick of the best from Daisy.  

Reminds me of those delightful Dior flower rings...well, a girl can pretend

I heart that you can stack these easily for a boho vibe

As a blonde with a pale skin (yep, underneath the layers of tan), I find that silver doesn't work near my face. It's a great shame as I've kidded myself I can wear it for a long time, so I've amassed some beaut silver earrings which I'm about to give away. However, my hands can just about carry off silver so I'm making the most of it on my fingers. Are you a girl who will only wear platinum, or do you swear by yellow gold? 

All images via Daisy

Thank you

 Via and via
 

Happy new year, happy new you and welcome to 2011! The year which will bring us lots of love, happiness and creativity. Because we're going to plan it, say it, believe it and then manifest it. 

I'm having a Cath Kidston moment (actually, when am I not having a Kidston moment? In small amounts, mind) and believe that Kidston stationery makes a fab generic gift for almost every woman, so it's worth picking some up in the sales to give to your girlfriends (it's all about planning ahead - it's great to have a basket of gifts that would suit almost anyone to cover birthday emergencies). Personally, I love to receive something practical like a pair of socks, a mug or a writing set so that I can pen beautiful thank you letters. 

A thank you in the post is worth more than any text or email; people really appreciate the personal touch. I received a personalised stationery set last year which I loved using. Let's embrace the beauty of receiving a handwritten letter in the post. 

Thank you for reading I heart Natural Beauty in 2010. I'm looking forward to our journey through 2011.