Friday Focus: Art as Expression: Get Creative and Colour!

Using art as self expression is an effective way to boost self esteem by expressing our feelings and inner confidence as connecting inward is an essential way to work on our self worth, happiness and confidence. This weeks exercise focuses on relaxation and is especially cathartic for me since I have survived the seven and a half weeks school summer holidays (the Autumn school term is on the horizon!) - if not with slightly less energy (and less money!) than when I started! 

The purpose of 'Friday Focus' for the next few weeks is to demonstrate ways of how we can boost our self-esteem, build our inner confidence and learn to set aside time to relax by using art as a way of self expression.

It is hugely important to allocate time for ourselves and to take time out from the distractions of everyday life and of all the challenges that it can throw in your direction. We need time to re-balance, breathe and relax with an occasional few hours of quiet time put aside just for us - whether you are an early bird - taking time to practice some yoga and prepare breakfast before everyone wakes up; or a night owl - making the most of your quiet evening time to have a relaxing bath and read a few chapters of a good book - we all have different ways in which we like to relax. 

But how about practising an exercise which uses colour? 'Colouring in' is a well documented relaxation technique (chromatherapy) advocated by Carl Jung in the early 20th century, as it activates different areas of the brain's cerebral hemispheres - which combine logic and creativity - and uses the cerebral cortex involved in vision and fine motor skills. In simple terms, it lowers the activity of the emotional part of the brain, so is great for stress relief. 

You may have already seen some of the new 'grown-up' colouring books  in your local book shop or supermarket - I have seen at least 10 different examples in a local high street store today. These books are aimed at adults (not children!) and are full of gorgeous  fine-art ink illustrations featuring everything from elaborate enchanted gardens to abstract patterns and ornate Art Deco designs. If you worry that this may not be for you because you may not be great at art; someone else has drawn all of the outlines so that you can concentrate on releasing your creativity and imagination! Enjoy!

Friday Focus: If you don't want to invest your cash into a colouring book because you are worried that you won't get your use out of it, print off a sheet on the internet to get you started; there are loads to choose from! 

Product Round-Up: Aloe Gel Drink

Honest, truthful reviews of tried and tested products...

How many of us have those days when we just don't feel like our normal selves? When we wake up feeling run-down, tired, with absolutely no energy despite having a full nights sleep? How many days do you hit a mid-afternoon slump feeling sluggish and bloated and craving sugary snacks and drinks? I don't think I have met a single person who hasn't experienced at least one of these symptoms. It is normal - it is part of what life throws at you BUT it is changeable!

Reassessing the way that we treat ourselves and our health by looking at our diets and what we put into our bodies has a huge impact on the way that we feel. Fitness and well-being is a massive market nowadays and is becoming increasingly popular as we become more aware of which foods, supplements and products we can use to make us look and feel better about ourselves.

It is only fitting that I dedicate this health post to the number 1 top selling product - Aloe Vera Gel. This pure stabilised gel is as close to the natural plant juice as possible and contains over 200 compounds, 75 nutrients, 18 amino acids, 20 minerals and 12 vitamins! Don't know much about Aloe? To see how amazing this wonder-botanical is, click HERE for more information.

Many customers were initially introduced to this product through purchasing the Clean 9 detox package and have continued to use it by integrating it into their everyday lifestyle after experiencing fantastic results which, from customer to customer have varied from - considerable sustainable weight loss, noticeably clearer skin, a rise in energy and vitality and an overall improved sense of well being.

Aloe Vera Gel addresses all of the issues which we need to make ourselves feel great. It cleanses and detoxifies, re-balances the immune system, aids healthy digestion and supplies the body with all of the important ingredients which it needs to allow complex enzyme systems to work efficiently.

My view?
Aloe Vera Gel is one of the best nutritional supplements available. I have seen and read amazing results and testimonials from hundreds of devotees. If this product wasn't great, then it wouldn't sell and it certainly wouldn't be the number 1 best seller for Forever. Most importantly it is sustainable. It is a product which can be easily integrated into an everyday healthy balanced diet. It is not a short-term fix, it is a long-term solution to help to maintain good health and an improved sense of general well-being by meeting our bodies nutritional needs by aiding efficient function.

Need a boost? Trial this product!
Aloe Vera Gel - £21.26 for 1 Litre

BUY from my online store HERE

Product Round-Up: Whitening Tooth Gel

Honest, truthful reviews of tried and tested products...

I've spoken to a number of ladies about their cosmetic wish list (and we all have one!) and their top three recurring choices tend to be .. whiter teeth, longer lashes and clearer, smoother skin. A year round non- harmful tan and killer abs would be nice too but we know that some things may be easier (or more realistic) to achieve in the short-term than others!

Cosmetic perfection can take time, effort, perseverance (and in some cases, money!) but I have a found an amazing natural product which can tick off the first of the 'must-haves' on this list and doesn't cost a fortune like some teeth whitening treatments!

This fluoride free product contains only the highest quality natural ingredients, including patented aloe vera and bee propolis which helps to protect teeth and gums whilst fighting plaque and natural peppermint and spearmint flavourings to freshen breath. As this product is a gel rather than a paste it is non-abrasive which protects tooth enamel and gums.

I have spoken to ladies who tell me that they use nothing other than this product when brushing their teeth and others who say that they have incorporated it into their dental care routine while intermittently still using their usual recommended fluoride toothpastes.

You only have to look at the results posted online by happy customers to see the amazing results that they have achieved by using this product!

My view?
For the cost of this product in comparison to other brands out there which claim to whiten teeth fast (by using chemicals and bleaching agents no less) this really is a great buy. Anything which contains natural ingredients is a win-win for me anyway, but I have found in the past that all-natural cosmetics and skincare sometimes do have to compromise on things such as fragrance and effectiveness (you have to use twice as much etc) but this product ticks every box - it fights plaque, is kind to teeth and gums, is gentle enough for the whole family, freshens breath and effectively whitens teeth with regular use. This is definately a bathroom cupboard staple that everyone should try.

Forever Bright Toothgel - £5.98 for 130g 

BUY from my online store HERE

Wisdom Wednesday

The Beauty Deli Big Question

'We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and by the depth of our answers' Carl Sagan

Perspective: 'If you weren't scared what would you do?' 
Use the 'rocking chair' test - what would your 90 year old self, looking back on your own life, advise you to do in the moment?

Monday muse... take a moment to answer today's question. Pass it on... Find out more about the people you know. Even the small things provide BIG revelations! Engage in conversation. Build relationships. Speak to someone new!

CocoNUTS about Coconuts!

I am nuts for coconut products; either beauty, food or beverages; they all work for me! I first made the switch from fruit juice in the morning (high in sugar) to coconut water and from organic semi skimmed milk to coconut milk and I can honestly say I love the taste, flavour and health benefits that these products add to my diet. 

My favourite all-round coconut product by far has to be coconut oil; I use this to add extra taste to stir-fries, Thai dishes and curries. It adds a real depth of flavour to creamy dishes such as risotto too and is super healthy compared to mechanically pressed oils such as vegetable and sunflower oils (try to steer clear from these at all costs!) As it has a higher smoking temperature than most oils it is great for wok-style cooking. Olive oil is great too to use for drizzling and frying (at lower temperatures) - remember there is such as thing as 'good' fats - see my previous post 'will eating fat make me fat?! 

Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) which is a healthy form of saturated fat compared to trans fats. Our body metabolises MCFA fats in the liver which converts these into energy rather than being stored as fat. It has helped massively with my digestion as the fatty acids in coconut oil contains anti microbial properties which sooth bacteria, candida or parasites that can cause poor disgestion; I now suffer less from heartburn and hardly any tummy bloating after eating a meal - there is nothing worse than feeling 'over-full'!

Incorporating coconut oil into your diet is ideal if you are embarking on a healthy eating plan, mini-detox or just want to lose a few pounds. Alongside reducing abdominal obesity when used as part of a healthy eating plan, it boosts metabolism - studies have shown that people who consume coconut oil burn more kilojoules than those who don't - a good benchmark is about 2tbsp per day - plus eating it pure helps to control those sugar cravings!

One of the real reasons that I love this product - apart from the fact that it is healthy and tastes gorgeous - is that it smells divine - how many other kitchen products can you think of which can be used in your beauty regime? It works really well on nails and cuticles - it is an essential part of my mani-pedi routine now. I also smooth it onto areas which prone to drying out such as knees, elbows and heels and use it on my face if my skin needs a pick-me-up - it is amazing in winter when the cold weather dries skin out. You can use it as a hair mask but my hair is too fine for that - try though if you have thicker hair which needs a moisture boost!

Last tip? A huge amount of body scrubs on the market are full of plastic micro-beads which really aren't great for the environment - a really simple way to make a fuss-free homemade scrub with coconut oil is to melt a a few tablespoons of oil and when cooled mix with brown sugar or sea salt. Really easy and super effective!

Friday Focus: Art as Expression: Vision Boards

Using art as self expression is an effective way to boost self esteem by expressing our feelings and inner confidence as connecting inward is an essential way to work on our self worth, happiness and confidence. This weeks exercise is to show you how to create a vision or dream board. A vision board helps you to focus and create a positive outlook to your future.

Just taking some time out to focus on what you want out of life can relieve some stress and allows you to see how you can reach those goals. This exercise is based on the law of attraction which states that we bring into our lives what we think about the most - a vision board being a daily reminder of the things that we want for ourselves. By seeing these things, we think about them and if you believe in the law of attraction, we are more likely to obtain them.

Take a look at where you are now and determine what you want from the future and where you want to be - your goals and aspirations. Also identify what you want to change and how you can effectively make those changes. Once you are in the mindset of identifying these future goals, an easy way to start is to take a stack of magazines and newspapers and select words and images that represent these goals.

If you are not sure as to what you want your future goals to be, you can still do this exercise and get a lot out of it. Select words and images that stand out to you; there may not be a specific reason why but by setting out these cuttings can create a clearer picture as to what path you may wish to follow.

It is a really great way to gauge your progress by realising where you want to be, what you are doing right now to achieve your desired future and what factors present in your life may be holding you back.

Friday Focus - Create a vision or dream board this weekend to see what positive steps you can take to keep your future in perspective.