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Monday, 28 February 2011

Are you trying to look like someone else?

If we all took heed of Sophie’s wise words, imagine how happy we would all be – no self-esteem issues, all knowing we are perfectly unique and perfectly beautiful.

Wise words indeed from a 3 year old beauty!

“You have forgotten that you are unique” ... 
“Why are you trying to look like someone else?” ... 
“You have the power to Stop it!” ... 
“Be healthy! Get to your right size. Not someone else’s …”

 

Friday, 25 February 2011

Desperately seeking curvy and chic

~ 7th July 2010

Why oh why is it soooo difficult to find beautifully-cut, quality clothes if you have a bountiful, curvy figure?

I am having a bit of a panic at the moment. Yesterday morning, I managed to corner my other half over his plans for my imminent 40th birthday … the idea of a party fills me with horror, but I know he has something up his sleeve. So I needed to know exactly WHAT kind of attire did I need to have in mind for wearing on my birthday eve?

“Smart evening wear” came back the response … and I could already feel the panic building, as when an Italian says that, you know you need to be turning up in Summer prom chic!

Disaster. I cannot fit into anything that I already own – my own fault, I know. But I have a week to find something which makes me feel – and look – beautiful *aaarggghh*

I adore Chesca’s ultra-feminine range which is always beautifully-cut and very flattering. But it only goes up to size 24. Hmmmm. Anyhow, you can find Chesca in John Lewis in Oxford Street (also at Ely’s in Wimbledon, I found out recently) and also at their online store www.chesca1424.co.uk
Beige Plus have some truly beautiful clothes at their shops in London so maybe they will be worth a visit, even ‘tho I know that the type of dress I have in mind rarely sells for less than £300 in their stores … a little bit over my budget (by £200+ really!).

I had seen a beautiful dress on Curvety but delivery is 2 weeks. Hmmmm.

I am not a fan of Evans or Ann Harveys – I’ve found most of their garments are of poor quality and/or poor cut in my humble (personal) opinion, although one of my favourite dresses (too dark for summer wear) is from Ann Harveys, from 11 years ago!

I’ve fallen out of love with Marks & Spencer since their decision to take anything over a size 24 off their shop-floor … so they are happy to get the fat-pound, they just don’t want us trailing around in their shops! Anyways, I’ve noticed their size 24-28 range getting smaller and smaller, so it doesn’t really bode well.

M&Co, who used to be Mackays, sometimes have the odd article of nice clothing but nothing which could be deemed as really dressy for the evening …

Even my beloved favourite – Spirito di Artigiano – are out of stock of the prettiest pink dress I’ve seen in a long time ….

(although some of their items can be quite pricey, I really cannot fault their cut or quality of material in any way – and it arrives beautifully packaged, it’s like opening up a precious Christmas gift! Even better, they have their Summer sale on at the moment with up to 80% off so do have a look!)

So … if anyone out there has any ideas, I’d be soooo grateful to hear them … the countdown is on!!!

Monday, 14 February 2011

Special February offers to celebrate Ripple's new home

Hi!  As many of our readers know, I have a long love-affair going with Ripple’s beautiful organic aromatherapy products and use them extensively both in my work as a therapist and spiritual healer AND at home for relaxation!

Ripple have flown the fledgling nest (from Burley) to a gorgeous new home in Brockenhurst, New Forest in the Setleyridge Vineyard.  Please view their latest newsletter online to see all the hard work that has gone into making the perfect new space for them to create their magic and share with adoring fans!

To celebrate their new home, they will be having an “OPEN DAY” on Saturday 12th March between 12pm and 4pm so please pop by to share a celebratory glass of something with Debbie and Nikki and have a look round. If you fancy popping in before then, please feel free to do so.

Their new address is Setley Ridge Vineyard, Lymington Rd, Brockenhurst, Hampshire, SO42 7UF (England). Their new telephone number is +44 (0)1590 622422

***MOVING IN SALE ***
*** until Tuesday 8th March ***

Ripple Energy Therapy Kit
* reduced from £195 to £120 *

Anointing Oils
* reduced from £12.95 to £7 *
\
Natural Soya Candles
* reduced from £18.00 to £12 *

“Pamper Yourself” Gift Box
* reduced from £49.50 to £30 *

“Create an Atmosphere” Gift Box
* reduced from £45.00 to £27 *

10% off any of our Forest Essence Range

Please call Debbie and Nikki on 01590 622422 or check out their website to view their divine products.

(Offers available only whilst stocks last)

*** Special gift for February ***
LOVE REED DIFFUSERS
£25
(usually £30)
(Offer available only whilst stocks last)



We wish them the very best of luck and a very prosperous first year in their new “space” ~ we love you, girls, just as much as we love your products!

Nature's Perfection

Mother Nature never fails us – by using her gifts as nature intended, we have a wonderful opportunity to achieve naturally-beautiful perfection.  There are very few ‘natural’ skincare products available to us at a price we can afford which can truly be described as ‘natural’. They have either been heat-treated or had ingredients added to them which may be well-known irritants, toxins or parabens.

The joy of using natural ingredients is the certainty that they contain all of the essential vitamins that your skin needs. By using facial oils they take your skincare routine to a new level and results are often seen immediately.

As oils are Mother Nature’s precious gift to us it would be a real shame not to fully explore the benefits of using facial oils in place of creams crammed full of toxins and unnatural chemicals which may be doing untold, long-term damage to our precious skin.

We have listed below a small selection of the interesting or unusual oils which are often used in our personalised facial serum blends. We do not, however, add any essential (aromatherapy) oils into the mix, relying simply on the healing properties from each carefully-selected oil.

Borage Seed OilBorago officinalis
Pressed from the seeds of the beautiful Borage plant, Borage Seed Oil has the highest concentration of gamma linolenic acid (GLA) naturally found, higher than in any other plant source! GLA is an Omega-6 fatty acid, an essential fatty acid. Omega-6 fatty acids cannot be produced in our bodies but must be obtained from food sources. Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are vital for healthy brain function, metabolism and for bones, hair and skin growth. It has been widely studied for its ability to calm and reduce inflammation, and has been used with positive results for many different skin disorders, such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, rosacea and prematurely-aged skin.
Extraction – Cold Pressed/Unrefined
Shelf life – 3-6 months


Hemp Seed Oil Cannabis sativa
This exceptionally-rich oil is high in essential omega fatty acids and proteins, a deep green colour and a wonderful aroma of nuts. Hemp Seed Oil is anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing, an excellent choice to help balance dry skin, fight skin inflammations and help to heal skin lesions. Hemp Seed Oil if bursting with anti-oxidants and contains moisture-balancing properties. As the oil is not greasy and readily absorbs into the pores, it is an excellent choice for those looking for rejuvenating and moisturizing properties to feed their facial skin. The vitamins and minerals present in Hemp Seed Oil are easily absorbed through the skin, resulting in a more vitamin- and mineral-enriched tonic.
Extraction – Cold Pressed/Unrefined
Shelf life – 8 months


Macadamia Nut OilMacadamia integrifolia
A superb protective oil with a high absorption rate, this beautiful fine oil comes from the pressed nuts of the Macadamia tree. It is a priceless delight for the skin and has proven itself to be one of the best regenerative oils available. It is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, and closely resembles sebum (the oil naturally produced by ones skin to help protect it), with an added bonus of it having been used successfully as a healing oil for scars, sunburns, minor wounds and other skin irritations.
Extraction – Expeller Pressed/Unrefined
Shelf life – 10-12 months



Rosehip Seed OilRosa rubiginosa
A rich, amber-coloured oil from the ripened fruit of the famed Rosehip, which is also known as Rosa Mosqueta, ithis is the perfect oil for reducing scarring. This unique oil is very high in essential fatty acids and is used widely in preparation to help treat crinkly laughter lines (the “W” word is banned here!) and prematurely-ageing skin. A truly delightful, light oil which soaks straight into your skin leaving no hint of a sheen.
Extraction – Cold Pressed/Unrefined
Shelf life – 10-12 months


Safflower OilCarthamus tinctorius
A super moisturising oil with some 78% Oleic acids, this is an excellent base oil for specialist skincare preparations. With its deep, soothing properties, it is often the first port of call for those looking to treat their skin to natural delights.
Extraction – Expeller Pressed/Refined
Shelf life – 1 year


We also use selected macerated oils, harnessing the power of flowers steeped in a vegetable oil for a few weeks which gives a perfumed, added dimension of the plants’ medicinal properties to our facial oil blends. Two of our favourites are:

Calendula (Macerated) Oil
With such gentle, cooling and soothing properties, Calendula (Macerated) Oil is a perfect oil for those of us who suffer with dry, damaged or inflamed skin and is also gentle enough to be used in baby preparations. Calendula Oil can be used in preparations for acne, inflammation and soothing irritated skin.

Rose Petal (Macerated) Oil
The name alone evokes a deep sense of serenity and love. Rose Petal (Macerate) Oil is an excellent choice for dry, mature skin but it is also a beautifully-cooling and mildy-astringent oil with a delicate, dreamy scent to add a touch of luxury to any blend.

NB. All of our bottles are PET recyclable blue plastic bottles.

Natural beauty with facial exercises

Facial exercises are a fabulous way to keep your facial muscles supple and looking youthful - best of all, they are free and easy to do.

We have always recommended the following online videos to our clients who have invested in our blissful Facial Rejuvenation (Natural Face Lift Massage) treatments, in addition to the exercise sheets we give at the end of the first treatment. 

Remember, laughing is the best medicine and an excellent way to keep youthful ~ some of the clips here will definitely make you giggle!


* Facial Yoga Exercises - Yoga Lion's Breath : playing time - 2 minutes


* Facial Yoga – The Fountain of Youth : playing time – 4.57 minutes


* Facial Exercises with Cynthia Rowland : playing time – 4.23 minutes



* Dry Skin Brushing Techniques : playing time – 7.26 minutes


Other articles you may find of interest:
* Facial Exercises handout
* Facial Yoga article
* Facial Rejuvenation by Mary Dalgleish (published in “International Therapist” journal, May 2008)


What does 'holistic' mean?

The word ‘holistic’ means “whole”; whereas conventional, orthodox medicine will focus on the symptom or the part of the body which is crying out in pain, holistic therapists are trained to take into account the whole person. 

I firmly believe that our bodies have a vital life force and that when this falls out of balance, dis-ease takes hold. Holistic treatments help to rebalance this vital life force, restore your vital essence and help the body to heal itself as nature intended …  gently and without chemical intervention.

Complementary therapies are not meant to diagnose or cure illnesses; they are there to help you tap into your own potential to heal yourself.

If you suffer from any one of the modern-day ills – such as IBS, tiredness and insomnia, headaches, muscular aches, back pain, hormonal imbalances, disrupted sleep patterns, sensitivities, candida, anxiety and depression, weight imbalances – all of these and more may be alleviated or helped by a number of complementary interventions.

Holistic treatments do not just give you physical benefits – they also help you with your mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Relaxation is just an enticing 'starter course' of a delicious, rejuvenating menu you can choose to tap into whenever you so wish.