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The art of a successful M word conversation with your partner
The M word is something that many of us don’t even think of. That is, until it comes charging into our lives, bringing hot flushes, mood swings and changes in our body shape, to name but just a few symptoms. I am of course talking about Menopause. It’s something all of us as women will experience at some point in our lives yet we can feel enormous discomfort talking about it. The lack of openness around this phase in our lives means both us and our partner are unlikely to recognise the symptoms or know how to manage them. But it can have a profound effect on our relationship. We…
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Delicious health snacks from the Squirrel Sisters
I am delighted to share an inspirational interview with Gracie & Sophie Tyrrell, Founders, Squirrel Sisters. Squirrel Sisters is a multi award-winning health and wellness company with a range of delicious and health snacks. This business came about after the sisters underwent some very challenging times. It’s a really heart-warming tale of how challenges can make us stronger. The Squirrel Sisters have done everything themselves from product development, sales, finance and all the things that go towards launching a successful business. Tell us a little about your childhood and teenager years We were both born in Richmond, Surrey and enjoyed growing up there until we were 9 and 11 years…
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Helping Friends or Family Through the Loss of a Loved One
Image Source Losing a loved one is never easy. Whether that’s a pet, a friend, a family member or anyone else a person has had some sort of connection with. So, if a family member, friend or loved one experiences loss, you will need to step up to the plate to help them through the process. There are so many different things you can do to help someone during this difficult time – from emotional support to practical support. But often, it can feel difficult to know what’s the best thing to do. Here are a few suggestions that could prove useful for everyone involved. Offer Your Sympathy First and…
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Father’s Day Gifts from Peach Perfect
I love how special memories pop up in my Facebook feed from time to time. Today I logged on to see an old photograph of my father and I sitting together on a garden swing giggling away. Some photos just capture a lovely relationship and this is one of those. Sadly my father passed away in 2012. He was easy to buy presents for as he loved mustard, honey and books most of all. My husband is a trickier dad to buy for but I feel better now I have seen the Father’s Day gifts from Peach Perfect. So often online stores claim to have something for everyone but I…
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10 Tips for Avoiding Loneliness While Social Distancing
Pixabay It’s a lonely time for everyone. With the coronavirus pandemic confining the UK population to their homes, many people across the country have been shut off from friends and family. Although the lockdown is beginning to ease, who knows when life will return to normal again? Our social interactions are restricted by distancing measures, and we can still get no closer than two metres to our loved ones. Most people are working from home or on leave, meaning they no longer have access to the camaraderie of the office. And with restaurants, social functions and public events all shut down, meeting new people is out of the question. For…
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My Top 10 Tips for Self-Care
Today I thought I would write a bit about self-care, and the importance of looking after ourselves- something which is particularly important during these tough times. We should always practice healthy self-care habits. But sometimes it is easier said than done to take the time to look after ourselves. This is especially true when working towards stressful deadlines, or when trying to entertain children all day. So these are a few helpful tips that can help you look after yourself, practising healthy self-care habits, and improving both your mental and physical health. Limit time on social media Social media can be fantastic for keeping in touch with loved ones and…
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3 Healthy Lifestyle Changes That Also Save You Money
We all know that we should be making healthier lifestyle choices, especially as we get older, but sometimes it’s tough. Sticking to a diet or keeping up with a new exercise routine is hard when you have a busy lifestyle and many people struggle to find the motivation. But what if you could make healthy lifestyle changes that save you money? Finding ways to improve your health and save money at the same time is a great way to help you stay motivated. If you set a savings goal and put the money towards something fun, like a holiday, it’s a lot easier to keep up with your health habits.…
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Eco-friendly t-shirts and art from Artful Sonder
Imagine starting a business in lockdown! As regular readers know I love to feature inspirational business women and their life stories on my blog. Frankie has just launched an Eco-friendly t-shirt and art print brand that’s based in the UK and operates online at https://artfulsonder.com/. The business designs all t-shirts and art in house and ensures the process is environmentally friendly and ethical from manufacturing, to the materials used, right down to the packaging. You can find out more about how the business strives to be an ethical, Eco-friendly brand here: https://artfulsonder.com/pages/sustainability What was your first career? What did you learn from this? I’ve actually worked within digital marketing for…
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5 Natural Ways To Minimise Menopause Symptoms
Image – CC0 Licence Some women can feel the stress of going through the menopause a little early in life. If you see the signs of menopause before your 50s you might feel that there is nothing that you can do about it. It’s one of those things that we can worry about but there are things that we can do to help reduce the symptoms of menopause. Taking Natural Supplements There’s a lot of natural approaches to minimising the symptoms of the menopause. You can see there are plenty of natural HRT remedy ideas online and as many women take natural remedies and products it can be difficult to…
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How to Practise Self-Care with 5 Easy Tips
Today’s world runs at a frantic pace. Whether it’s work-related stresses and strains or juggling a hectic home life, time is short and burn out is often not too far away. Practising a helpful program of self-care and self-love is an easy way to let it all go and recharge those batteries. Here are my 5 easy tips to practising self-care in style. 1. Lighting a candle It may be unsurprising as I run my own candle company; I’m a huge candle fan! There’s nothing quite as relaxing for us girls than lighting a candle and snuggling on the sofa. Whether this is with or without wine, a candle can…
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Best shoes for Summer
I wanted to highlight the best shoes for summer. As lock down eases, we are all looking forward to the warmer months more than ever. We will value memory-making and know how vital it is to spend time with friends and family. When we are having fun times, it is great to find exactly the right pair of shoes for different activities and times of day. Gold loafers Daniel Footwear is an independent retailer with over 20 stores in the UK, plus an award winning e commerce store. Within the boutique stores and online, you will find an extensive collection of designer shoes, bags and accessories which are of high…
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Protecting Your Family’s Mental Health
Over the past nine weeks, families across the country have found themselves working, living, learning and playing at home as the world reacted to the coronavirus crisis. Families with younger children used to days at school, teenagers preparing for exams and adults working full time were suddenly thrown together 24/7 with no chance of escape. It may come as no surprise then that mental ill health now affects 1 in 3 people, a statistic that changed quickly from 1 in 4 people after a few weeks in lockdown. This new statistic also represents the stats for mental health in children and young people, which a Government survey conducted in 2017…
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7 Ways To Find Your True Calling
Image by Katerina Knizakova from Pixabay No matter how old you are or what job you are doing, if you don’t feel satisfied, then it’s probably time to find out what you really should be doing. It’s not just about doing what you enjoy, but about feeling fulfilled, challenged and satisfied. It might not even be one thing, it could be more, but how do you know? Deal with the present Stop thinking about what you think that you should be doing or where you should be in five or ten years time; think about what you’re doing today. What you do today matters, so if you do have a…
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Weekly update – a mixed bag
You find me lounging on fresh white cotton bedding which always cheers my soul. I have finally got the window in the bedroom shut so the wild winds are there but not disturbing me. I have had the traditional bacon butties brunch. I have caught up with political shenanigans. I have worked on future plans as ever and now am indulging in a little therapy of the blogging variety. Yesterday I got caught out when I treated myself to a Guardian at the garage along with some food. My calculations were wrong so I did not have enough money with me. My son was outside with my bag and wallet.…
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Looking After Yourself Whilst Self Isolating
It seems there are never enough hours in the day for self-care at the moment – certainly for me running a business with a toddler and a newborn under my feet, normal time management has gone out of the window. However, I believe that taking care of yourself is actually more important than ever; most of us are probably experiencing heightened anxiety or stress. It’s easy to dismiss doing something for yourself as self-indulgent or frivolous whereas actually taking just a few minutes out of each day to practice some self-care can help create a sense of calm and order. Here are my seven top tips on how to look…
