Tag Archives: beauty

A Little Bit Of ‘Me Time’ Is All You Need: How To Feel Relaxed & Energised For 2022

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Nobody ever said that January was a good month. Motivation and focus often as empty as your wallet after an over-indulgent festive season, it’s the month of the year where it’s easier than ever to find yourself slumping into a pile of blankets and biscuits. Although a fresh page can bring with it a fresh opportunity, it can also bring with it a sense of anxiety that you should be doing more / trying harder / making up for lost time. January can become a pressure cooker of expectation, when actually what we should be doing is being kind to ourselves; ensuring we feel relaxed, energised and have a sense of wellbeing pays off to a far greater degree as we emerge from the sofa and back into the world.

If you’re feeling the strain already, here are my four top tips for taking back a bit of ‘me time‘ and ensuring I feel relaxed, energised and focused.

A Little Bit Of ‘Me Time’ Is All You Need: 4 SIMPLE WAYS To Feel Relaxed & Energised

DRESS THE PART


If you’d told me a couple of years ago my wardrobe would be bursting at the seams with loungewear sets, comfy tracksuits and PJs that get worn from 5pm, I wouldn’t have believed you. But here we are! (One of the few benefits of lockdown is how we all embraced comfy clothes…) Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you can’t look and feel good, so switch up those mismatching 15 year old pyjamas or paint splattered joggers for a set or two that helps you to feel great. There’s something about changing out of the days clothes into something altogether more relaxed, not dissimilar to that feeling of slipping into freshly laundered bedsheets. Trust me – new PJs are life.

SCENT YOUR HOME


Behavioural studies have revealed that smells can trigger intense emotional memories, as well as helping to either enhance or hinder our mood. There’s no better way to set the scene than to light a candle, or even better, invest in an Aroma Diffuser that gently and effectively diffuse essential oils into the air. I’ve been using one of these for the past couple of years and adore it so much that every family member has since recieved their own for Christmas; they delicately fill the air with a scent of your choosing, helping to relax the mind or energise the senses when you need it most.

A Little Bit Of ‘Me Time’ Is All You Need: 4 SIMPLE WAYS To Feel Relaxed & Energised

TREAT YOUR SKIN


Skincare is more than just functional. It can be an emotive and relaxing experience, if done right. Taking your time to indulge in some of your favourite products and thoroughly massaging them into skin will not only benefit your complexion, but your mind too. Don’t skimp on your bedtime skincare regime: dedicate half an hour to effectively double cleansing (with something beautiful like Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm,) steaming (I swear by a facial steamer to clear and refresh the skin,) massaging and lifting, before adding a night treatment (such as Elemis Plumping Pillow Facial) that will leave you looking and feeling amazing.

HAVE A PAMPER


Making time for regular pampering really does make all the difference, but sometimes we just don’t have the time to book in a spa day or pop to the salon. That’s where handy at-home solutions come in! My mum had a foot spa in the 90’s and it was the absolute height of sophistication, but did you know they’re making a comeback and better than ever? The Homedics Luxury Foot Spa is the perfect way to ease away the stresses and strains of the day; jets relieve tension in your feet, while massager rollers soak away muscle tiredness, leaving your tootsies relaxed and your mind at ease. A session in this followed by some great foot cream and even a cheeky polish paint is sure to leave me feeling so much better.

A Little Bit Of ‘Me Time’ Is All You Need: 4 SIMPLE WAYS To Feel Relaxed & Energised

Remember: the last couple of years have been hard on us all, and you can’t be the best version of you if you don’t stop to have a little ‘me time’. Taking time out isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength and should be celebrated. My resolution for 2022 is to focus on the wellbeing of my body and mind just as much as my career, family and social life. What will yours be?

Feeling inspired? Check out all the beauty treats and wellbeing must-haves over on www.very.co.uk

How do you feel relaxed and energised? Let me know below!

This is a sponsored feature on behalf of Very; all opinions my own.

A Little Bit Of ‘Me Time’ Is All You Need: 4 SIMPLE WAYS To Feel Relaxed & Energised

The Ultimate Beauty Destination: Surprise That Special Someone With The Perfect Gift From Boots

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It’s been a tough year. A tough couple of years to be exact. With the world still in a spin, and the lack of certainty causing even the most stable of us to lose our footing, it’s more important than ever to take a moment to reflect back on how far we’ve come. If you’ve made it this far in one piece, with your health and wellbeing still pretty much in tact, you deserve a medal! If you’ve not, then you still deserve a medal (or a very nice gift from Boots *wink*) for trying your best during unprecedented circumstances.

There are so many people to celebrate this festive season – from the NHS workers who have pushed forward so selflessly, to the key workers who have kept the world moving, to the parents who have juggled home schooling with a full time job, and the friends who have kept reminding us that it’s ok to have a wobble and feel like you’re losing yourself. I for one am grateful to my network of amazing people who have listened to me moan, been there when I’ve cried and reminded me that things will get better; what would we all do without a shoulder to cry on eh?

Boots christmas gift surprise 3 for 2 offer Boots christmas gift surprise 3 for 2 offer

This Christmas Boots want to celebrate those special people who deserve an extra sprinkling of joy… And we all know more than one who has experienced a bit of a cr*ppier-than-most twelve months. Their incredible selection of Christmas gifts will undoubtedly include the perfect treat that’s guaranteed to put a smile on their face and show them how much you care, with price points that start at only a few pounds up to extravagant gifts that will certainly surprise and delight.

MY SPECIAL SOMEONE

2021 has been especially hard for my family, as my 91 year old Grandad succumbed to dementia and moved into a full time care home earlier this year. Despite my Nan believing she could cope, it became increasingly apparent that he required more care than she was now able to give. Sleepless nights, panic attacks and anxiety ridden days have left their toll – and worried the rest of us no end. But six months on and she’s found herself (and her freedom) once again, despite being separated from the love of her life for the first time since they were married over sixty years ago.

When Boots asked me to choose someone to surprise with some of their beauty gifts (that make the best Christmas presents,) there was no question of who that special someone would be. My Nan is so deserving of a treat, and picking out some pretty gifts was an absolute pleasure; the little squeal she made when I delivered them melted my heart!

Boots christmas gift surprise 3 for 2 offer Boots christmas gift surprise 3 for 2 offer Boots christmas gift surprise 3 for 2 offer

THREE MAGICAL GIFTS

With the iconic ‘Boots 3 for 2’ there’s always a great deal to be had and amazing savings to be made – with the cheapest of your choices coming absolutely free. (Bonus!) Here’s what I chose for my Nan…

1. Liz Earle Superskin Beauty Sleep Ritual (£45.50)


For the last year she’s struggled with anxiety, especially at night, so anything that will encourage self-care and relaxation is gratefully received. This gift set includes some of Liz Earle’s iconic products (including Cleanse & Polish) alongside a little terrarium she’s already got plans for in the bathroom.

2. Laura Ashley Fragrance Diffuser (£18.00)


My Nan loves scent as much as I do; I’ve definitely inherited my love of candles and room diffusers from her! This home fragrance is enriched with notes of Daisy and White Aloe to provide a delicately floral experience, while the glass bottle is a statement in itself. The perfect gift for any home decor or fragrance connoisseur alike.

3. Laura Ashley Luxury Hand & Nail Cream (£5.00)


One of the things my Nan has kept up for decades is her regular manicures and pedicures, and her hands continue to defy her age. Some of my earliest memories include her applying a fragrant hand cream and me thinking it was the most grown up thing ever, so suffice to say I was unsurprised when this was ripped open and applied in an instant!

Boots christmas gift surprise 3 for 2 offer

So if you’ve got a special someone you’d love to treat this festive season, there’s guaranteed to be that last minute solution they’re sure to adore. It’s the season to show how much you care, and the joy really is in the giving…

Who in your life deserves to be surprised Secret Santa style this Christmas?

Check out all the Christmas gifts for her and Christmas gifts for him on offer on www.boots.com

AD: sponsored feature in partnership with Boots.com; all opinions my own.

Boots christmas gift surprise 3 for 2 offer

WIN Buy-a-Gift Vouchers!

 
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If you like entering competitions, I’ve teamed up with a whole host of UK bloggers for another giveaway. Back in August, I shared a Tesco gift voucher competition with you, and today I’ve got another gift voucher giveaway for you, but this time it’s a Buy-a-Gift voucher competition.

There’s two prizes up for the grabs this time, with a £100 gift voucher and a £25 gift voucher, which will come in handy in the run-up to Christmas. Buy-a-Gift offer so many fantastic gift experiences, gift sets and even short breaks, so you can get started on Christmas shopping, or of course, treat yourself!

It’s super simple to enter the competition. You just need to enter via the Rafflcopter, after reading the rules, and you’ll be entered to win the vouchers, so keep on reading to enter this fantastic giveaway.

WIN Buy-a-Gift Vouchers!

For today’s competition, we have two prizes to offer you. The first prize is a £100 BuyAGift Voucher and the second prize is a £25 BuyAGift voucher. Both of these awesome prizes will come in handy for Christmas this year. What will you buy with your voucher?

Who Brings You This Competition?

A collaboration of bloggers have got together to bring this prize to you, the prize comes out of their pocket as a thank you for supporting them over the past year.

You will find the links below, please pop over and visit them. You never know, you might find a blog that you really relate to. Sometimes we think we are the only person going through something, when in fact there are others. These bloggers share their ups and downs so that nobody ever feels alone. 

Spilling Life Tea / Weddings And Wishes / Extreme Frugal Living / A Year Of Food / Things That Start With / Yorkshire Wonders / Life In A Breakdown / Miss Makeup Magpie / Makeup Muddle / The Lifestyle Blogger UK / Socially Rach / The Grumpy Olive / Stylish London Living / Catch Up With Claire / Wot A Woman Diary / Being Tillys Mummy / Life Lessons With Vicky /Joanna Victoria / Alice In Sheffield / Ecoralive / Insequiral / Fox And Flora / The Best Things To Do In Cambridge / Mind Over Money Matters / Cotswold Lifestyle /  Frugal Home Project  

WIN Buy-a-Gift Vouchers!

How Can I Enter This Competition?

In order to be entered to win the vouchers, you need to leave a comment on the blog post. Click on the rafflecopter, and it gives you the instructions to do this.

Then there are other options to follow the bloggers on their social media. The more entries that you complete, the more chances you have of winning a voucher (or even both vouchers). You don’t have to complete all of the entries to be entered, but each one you complete is an entry.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Terms And Conditions

    • UK Entries only.
    • Blog comments must be over 8 words long otherwise it usually goes to the spam file.
    • This is a collaborated competition and is not associated with Buyagift or any other company.
    • You must be over 18 to enter this competition.
    • You don’t need to enter all of the other requirements, but if you do say you have completed them, please ensure that you have. Otherwise, your entry is void.
    • You have 28 days to claim your prize or another winner will be chosen. 
    • After you have claimed your prize, you will receive the voucher within 28 days

Jo Malone London ‘Great British Summer Fete’ Collection

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With the summer months come an excuse to embrace all that the world of scent has to offer; it’s an opportunity to hang up those rich and moody fragrances in favour of something lighter, more energising and reminiscent of time in the sunshine – whether that’s in the UK or abroad. Although we’ve become accostomed to a summertime scent including citrus or tropical notes that remind us of beach days and lazy afternoons in European destinations, with the pandemic forcing us to look closer to home for a getaway it’s the perfect opportunity to embrace notes that are a little more homegrown. And Jo Malone’s ‘Great British Summer Fete’ collection is the antidote we all need this year.

Inspired by the country fetes that we all experienced in childhood (and more so in adulthood as they’re making a comeback!) the collection nods beautifully to the gingham tablecloths and freshly baked goods often found on offer. Orange Peel, Tangy Rhubarb, Elderflower Cordial, Rose Blush and one of my favourites from the permenant line Blackberry & Bay (I wore this on my wedding day,) make up the five piece collection – and it’s one of my favourite limited edition ranges of all time.

Not only do the bottles feel incredibly special and totally different from what you’d expect from Jo Malone London, but the scents within are so smile-inducing that it’s going to be tough to stop using them when we hit the colder months. Elderflower is one of my favourite scents (and flavours) so it’s no surprise I utterly adore the concoction that’s just the right amount of sweetness; it’s not sickly sweet, but instead more of a comforting and uplifting scent that wafts for hours to the enjoyment of everyone around me.

Over the weekend I walked in the woods with my Nan, who pointed out a huge elderflower tree and told me stories of using the flowers to make award-winning wine in her youth. Moments later she asked what ‘beautiful perfume’ I was wearing as she kepy catching a delicate hint as we wandered through the overgrowth; the fact it was Jo Malone Elderflower Cordial was the best kind of coincidence and an even better endorsement for the spritz I’d applied that morning.

The Rose Blush scent is also a beautifully delicate embodiment of the roses that adorn a typical British countryside garden; a slightly sweet modern interpretation, it’s a great way to wear floral without it being heavy or ‘old fashioned’. Rose has been given a hard time in recent years, but this is a whisper of a fragrance that makes an ideal daily scent that would work beautifully when layered as much as it stands out when worn alone.

Although I’ve yet to try the Orange Peel or Tangy Rhubarb, they sound just as divine – and I’m sure I’d wear either in a heartbeat. And I’m already a huge fan of the Blackberry & Bay, as I wore it over English Pear and Freesia on my wedding day; it still reminds me of the early Autumn day we said our vows and the countryside barn we spent our reception in, so will forever have a special place in my heart.

This is a collection I fell in love with from the very first spritz, and one that will sure to find itself in the Jo Malone hall of fame for years to come.

Discover the Jo Malone ‘Great British Summer Fete’ Collection

Each 30ml scent is priced £55.00 – build your own duo or trio in a collectable tin for free!

AD: press samples sent with no obligation to feature

Jo Malone London ‘Great British Summer Fete’ Collection

  , , , , ,
Comments Off on Jo Malone London ‘Great British Summer Fete’ Collection

With the summer months come an excuse to embrace all that the world of scent has to offer; it’s an opportunity to hang up those rich and moody fragrances in favour of something lighter, more energising and reminiscent of time in the sunshine – whether that’s in the UK or abroad. Although we’ve become accostomed to a summertime scent including citrus or tropical notes that remind us of beach days and lazy afternoons in European destinations, with the pandemic forcing us to look closer to home for a getaway it’s the perfect opportunity to embrace notes that are a little more homegrown. And Jo Malone’s ‘Great British Summer Fete’ collection is the antidote we all need this year.

Inspired by the country fetes that we all experienced in childhood (and more so in adulthood as they’re making a comeback!) the collection nods beautifully to the gingham tablecloths and freshly baked goods often found on offer. Orange Peel, Tangy Rhubarb, Elderflower Cordial, Rose Blush and one of my favourites from the permenant line Blackberry & Bay (I wore this on my wedding day,) make up the five piece collection – and it’s one of my favourite limited edition ranges of all time.

Not only do the bottles feel incredibly special and totally different from what you’d expect from Jo Malone London, but the scents within are so smile-inducing that it’s going to be tough to stop using them when we hit the colder months. Elderflower is one of my favourite scents (and flavours) so it’s no surprise I utterly adore the concoction that’s just the right amount of sweetness; it’s not sickly sweet, but instead more of a comforting and uplifting scent that wafts for hours to the enjoyment of everyone around me.

Over the weekend I walked in the woods with my Nan, who pointed out a huge elderflower tree and told me stories of using the flowers to make award-winning wine in her youth. Moments later she asked what ‘beautiful perfume’ I was wearing as she kepy catching a delicate hint as we wandered through the overgrowth; the fact it was Jo Malone Elderflower Cordial was the best kind of coincidence and an even better endorsement for the spritz I’d applied that morning.

The Rose Blush scent is also a beautifully delicate embodiment of the roses that adorn a typical British countryside garden; a slightly sweet modern interpretation, it’s a great way to wear floral without it being heavy or ‘old fashioned’. Rose has been given a hard time in recent years, but this is a whisper of a fragrance that makes an ideal daily scent that would work beautifully when layered as much as it stands out when worn alone.

Although I’ve yet to try the Orange Peel or Tangy Rhubarb, they sound just as divine – and I’m sure I’d wear either in a heartbeat. And I’m already a huge fan of the Blackberry & Bay, as I wore it over English Pear and Freesia on my wedding day; it still reminds me of the early Autumn day we said our vows and the countryside barn we spent our reception in, so will forever have a special place in my heart.

This is a collection I fell in love with from the very first spritz, and one that will sure to find itself in the Jo Malone hall of fame for years to come.

Discover the Jo Malone ‘Great British Summer Fete’ Collection

Each 30ml scent is priced £55.00 – build your own duo or trio in a collectable tin for free!

AD: press samples sent with no obligation to feature