If you're anything like me you probably have a stash of products that you used to use, but for whatever reason, moved on from... I can almost never pinpoint why I stop using these products; but it is almost always skincare.

One of the items I've had stashed in a drawer for a while is this tub of Organic Surge Super Rich Body Butter in the Lavender Meadow variety. I couldn't tell you how long it's been there or why I haven't been using it, but I do know that I am committed to using this tub until it runs out.

When we transition between two different seasons my skin tends to rebel; autumn to winter is always the worst for me but this spring limbo also affects me skin, leaving it very dry and desparate for attention. For whatever reason after a shower at the weekend I felt the need for something more intensive than my normal body lotion so I dug this out and decided to reacquaint myself with it.

The first thing that immediately wins me over with this body butter is it's smell... it's just instant relaxtion. I've always been a fan of lavender scented products anyway, but this one is perfection. I actually have it sat next to me while I right this, with the lid off just so I can smell it.. it's like a scented candle without the worry of burning the house down.

Not only does is the smell good for the soul, but the fomulation is good for the skin. It's 100% free of parabens, SLS, artificual fragrances and colourants.... hooray! It's enriched with aloe vera and both cocoa & shea butter, so it soothes and smoothes at the same time. Infused with lavender and geranium essential oils, you get everything you could possibly want in one tub.  Add the fact that it is an ECO CERT organic product and that Organic Surge are fully against animal testing, and it's no wonder I've quickly fallen in love with this body butter.

The body butter is every bit as rich as the name suggests and it is certainly thick, with a little going quite a long way. It does take some serious rubbing in but then once distributed it seems to absorb quite quickly with no residue or sticky feeling left behind... just instant softness.

The only downside for me is that I can't find it for sale anywhere, so I'll be sending an email over to Organic Surge to see if they can help me track some down.. but if not, I've already got my eye on the other Lavender Meadow products, which include a body lotion.

I've found this a really great product to use just before bed, because I get the moisturising, the mini massage from rubbing it in and the relaxing smell of the lavendar (which I already as a pillow spray, so extra relaxation!).

You can find the full Organic Surge range at their website here: www.organicsurge.com

I can't recommend this body butter enough, and while it sat in my drawer for a long time.. it's going to get used a lot from now on!

I'd love to know about your forgotten product stashes and your thoughts on Organic Surge and body butters in general.... comments really do brighten up my day so please say hello!


Speak soon, x

Last Monday, I woke up with a head-splitting migraine and instantly knew I was in trouble. I'd pushed myself a little too hard over the weekend workwise and had let myself get dehydrated... there was only one person to blame for the pain that was making keeping my eyes open a monumental effort, and that was me.

Coupled with the migraine, I also came down with a cold/flu-buglike-thing (my immune system has impeccable timing) and spent almost all of last week curled up on my sofa; cradling cups of tea to keep my hands warm, surrounded by a mountain of tissues and desperately trying not to think about all the things I needed to be doing.

Even opening the laptop to check emails felt like it would take that entire day's energy, and climbing the stairs? They might as well have been Everest... I definitely crawled up on them on my hands and knees more than once. Why not just stay in bed upstairs I hear you say? The kettle was downstairs, that's the only explanation I can give.

It wasn't really until yesterday (Sunday) that the pressure in my head (thanks to blocked sinuses) really eased and I could actually inhale through my nose (this is no longer possible today thanks to hayfever, but it was nice at the time). An entire week just gone to waste because first I didn't listen to my body and then my immune system and head punished me for it.

If you're still reading this, you're probably thinking "is there a point to this?"... well there was supposed to be, so let's see if we can find it. We are all so busy these days; whether you're a stay at home parent doing the equivalent of 5 people's jobs, a blogger or artist trying to make people understand that exposure doesn't pay the bills, or just a "normal" person trying to make ends meet and have time to relax at the end of the day.

The world we live in is fast paced and it's relentless. We have 24hr news and it's almost always bad news. We are constantly connected which helps when we need it but then makes us feel withdrawn when we try to relax away from the constant refreshing of our news feeds. Emails are never-ending.. inbox zero? More like zero hope of that happening!

Last week brought it home to me that I was pushing myself too far. I work in 3 very different worlds. I care for a relative and I try to not completely neglect this blog which I've put so much time and love into over the years. Juggling all of it forever was never going to happen and I've now made myself a promise... no work after 6PM. Why 6? Because it's when I start cooking dinner, so from now on as soon as the cooker goes on the work brain goes off. No "oh I'll just schedule this tweet for next week" or "Let me just check something with this client". No more. Because I was burnt up and worn out and I can't do that again.

We all know we push ourselves too hard and we are all well aware of what the effects of that are.. so, I'm going to ask you a favour; give yourself a little time everyday just to relax. Sounds simple doesn't it? But we all know how tricky it can actually be. But let's all put some real effort into letting our brains just have a breather and give your bodies time to absorb what's happening in this crazy world we live in.

Stay safe, x


P.S. Just for sheer irony, I've actually finished writing this post at 6:11pm... oops.

Spring is just around the corner which means that it's also nearly Mother's Day (this Sunday in fact, so time is short!). Now I don't really pay much attention to Mother's Day myself; simply because my Mum died 6 years ago, with my Grandmother dying the year before.. so I don't have anyone to buy for on that day. But of course, plenty of people do celebrate Mother's Day so I thought I'd share with you the latest Specialbuys collection from Aldi to help you treat them!

The Mother's Day gift range is in stores right now (and online, but it might be a bit late to guarantee delivery) and includes:

With this new Mother's Day Specialbuys range, Aldi have got every angle covered... if she likes cake and a glass of bubbly then there's plenty of choice, if music is more her thing then I love the turntable (I've just invested in a record player and reminded myself how much better vinyl sounds), there are handbags, facial cleansers and even things for the garden.. so no matter what she likes you're bound to find something to put a smile on her face.

You can find more info on the products via Aldi's website here and they'll be instore while stocks last so get down to your local store fast!

While I don't have anyone to buy a present for this weekend, I'll definitely be popping down to my store to try and see if I can get my hands on a couple of things for myself.. stationery and slippers are calling me!

I'd love to know your thoughts on the range and if you think you'll be buying any of the products let me know what! If you're celebrating or if you're hoping to get something from your own kids, I hope you have a great Mother's Day <3

Speak soon, x

I’m not going to lie, I love cleaning my house. It’s how I cope with stress and there are few things as satisfying as a well organised cupboard. So with spring just about popping it’s fresh green shoots out the ground I’ve been thinking about spring cleaning and thought I’d share a few tips or notes with you lovely people! Spring cleaning is something I really enjoy doing because after winter it can feel a bit stuffy inside right? Kind of like that first day when you can leave the house without wearing winter boots or a thick coat; throwing open all the windows while you clean brings in a new lease of life.

• Windows - it’s not just about opening them but cleaning them too. Sure during the winter there’s so little sunlight around that a few grimy windows don’t make much difference but now’s the time to make them shine inside and out. But I don’t want any of you dangling out of windows or wobbling around on ladders so if you need help please get it, a window cleaner won’t cost a fortune and you’re guaranteed great results (just make sure you’re not naked when he pops around ;) .. )
• Floors - now I have a dog who is incredibly good at finding every single drop of mud and bringing it all home with him, so my carpets definitely need a good deep clean at the end of a long, wet winter. There are a few products I’ve got my eyes on to try this year, but if you don’t want to get down and scrub, think about hiring a carpet cleaner.. I have no idea if they work or not but some people swear by them! If your floors aren’t dirty but still need a refresh, I’ve found a steam mop is great for bringing some of the spring back.. mine has a carpet glider but if you don’t have one just make sure to not leave it in one spot for too long (after steaming stand on the carpet with bare feet, it is a lovely feeling while it’s still warm).
• Walls - time to look up from your floor and onto your paintwork. Are there any rooms you want to change the colour of or is the paint just in need of a clean? I swear by sugar soap, it is amazing for making your walls look as good as new without the hassle of repainting. But I do have quite a lot of painting to do this year, so I’ll be looking for some deals on paint as well (when did it get so expensive?)
• Sealant - not the most sexy of topics I know, but as someone who has flooded their kitchen (twice) due to bad sealant around the shower upstairs, I’m well aware of how important this is. Check the edges of your bath, shower, toilet and sinks for any peeling, mouldy or absent sealant. This is a really easy job to do yourself and you’ll feel very proud of yourself once everything is secure with some new sealer.. but make sure to open a window because that silicone stinks.
• Fire safe - while we’re on the really important parts, check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and make sure they have new batteries in them.. there is nothing more annoying than that 1 beep that goes off every 3 minutes and you’re not sure which alarm it is because the bastard never beeps when you’re looking at it. Change the batteries now, make a note in your diary for next year and relax.
• Bring in the outside - for me the start of spring is also when I start to bring flowers into my house again, last week I brought in some daffodils that had flowered early, this week it’s chrysanthemums that are sitting in my kitchen window. It’s only a small thing, but they make me feel a bit brighter when I see them because it means winter is finally on it’s way out.
• Stock take - if you’re like me then you have a healthy stock cupboard of tinned items “just in case”, now is a good time to make sure everything is still in date and to use up anything that will run out soon, plus tastes change so if you’ve stockpiled something you now hate why not donate it to your local foodbank instead? Another area to do a stock take in is your wardrobe... we’ve had the cold weather now so take a look at what you didn’t wear, ask yourself why you didn’t wear it and then evict it from your house! 
  

They are just a few of my tips for the start of spring, but I’d love to know if you have any of your own so please leave me a comment! My spring cleaning checklist gets longer every year but I always feel like I’m missing something.


Happy Spring!!

Do you ever feel like there’s more you could be doing for yourself? Do you wish you felt slightly looser when you get out of bed or that your skin wasn’t always so dry? I know I do, and I’m always reading articles of things I should be doing (generally I end up paying no attention and forgetting all about it 5 minutes later), so I decided to tell you 7 things everyone in their 20s should be doing in 2017, based on nothing but my own opinions and experiences. So buckle up and let’s look at making this year the year of you.

1. Stretching - I cannot stress this one enough which is why it’s right here at numero uno. Now this is largely based on my need to stretch due to my joint issues (hello to my fellow spoonies out there) but everyone can benefit from this and it’s a really simple thing that can make a huge difference. I’m not saying you have to sign up to a yoga class (but seriously consider it, yoga is amazing), stretching is all about you so if that means spending 60 seconds as soon as you get out of bed just reaching your arms to the sky to stretch your back out a little bit that’s absolutely fine. Or if it means spending 30 minutes before breakfast running through different stretches from the top of your neck right down to your toes (toe stretches are amazing, trust me), that’s also absolutely fine. It’s about finding what you need and matching that with what you can realisitcally fit into your day without it feeling like a chore. Stretching is key because so many of us spend our days sitting in front of our computers; I’m doing it right now writing this and you’re probably doing it right now reading this, unless you’re hunched over your smartphone instead. As we get older we lose some of our natural flexibility anyway so keeping yourself supple now will help you as you get older and can keep your joints in a happier condition which in turn should keep you more mobile for longer. Hurray!
2. Moisturise - Like stretching this is both for the now and for the future. Moisturising all your skin (not just that dry patch on the side of your nsose) will keep your skin healthier and happier for longer; bonus points if you make sure your chosen product has SPF in it! You should aim to moisturise your face at least once a day (I do it in the morning before makeup and at night before bed once I’ve stripped everything else off my face) and ideally you should be moisturising your body once a day too, especially if you’ve been exposed to the elements so arms and legs in particular. For the ladies your neck and cleavage also need some special attention because they can be the first places to show signs of ageing, which is cool because all get old, but dry skin isn’t good for anyone so slap some shea butter on there!
3. Boost your bed - what do I mean by that? Well it’s pretty simple, where do you spend a large chunk of your 24 hours and where does your body do most of it’s repair and maintenance work? In your bed. We all know that a good nights sleep can make or break us the next day so please take steps to making sure you get the required shut eye now because it will only get harder to fix issues as you get older. Invest in pillows that don’t give you a stiff neck, get good quality pillowcases and wash them regularly, get a duvet that can keep you warm but not too warm and make sure your mattress is working for you... I’ve just bought a memory foam mattress topper after moaning for nearly 3 years that the mattress on my bed hurt my ribs. Oh My God. It is so comfortable and it’s like sleeping on a supportive cloud. It cost less than £30 and I now wake up a lot less sore than I used to and I fall asleep easier. If you have more complicated sleep issues take a look at the S+ by ResMed which I reviewed a while ago, it tracks your sleep and then gives you tips on how to improve it. It made a big difference for me and I ended up waking in the middle of the night a lot less often. Result.
4. Brush your teeth - I don’t want to sound like your Mum, but come on you’re old enough to know that you should be brushing your teeth twice a day. Do you want to lose all your teeth before you’re 40 from gum disease or have other health problems caused by poor oral hygiene? I didn’t think so, so get yourself a toothbrush that suits your gums (I prefer soft bristles), don’t brush too hard and get a toothpaste you like. Mouthwash is another important step because it can get any parts you missed, but flossing is apparently pointless so you can leave the mouth string alone.
5. Filter - no I’m not talking about instagram, but social media can come into it. We all have those people who we follow or are “friends” with online who bug us right? We see their posts and it’s like an instant negativity cloud. So why are we still letting that negativity into our lives? If you don’t like them block them, if you’re worried about the repurcussions then just mute them or find a way to remove their posts from your feed. If it’s someone in your non-digital world who is the problem then ask yourself if you really need them around. If they’re not bringing anything positive then it’s time to cut loose because you deserve to surround yourself with positive people so you can strengthen each other.
6. Tailer your expectations - none of us have a perfect life, end of. Sure we might look at someone and say “wow I wish I had their life it looks perfect” but that person will be looking at someone else and saying the same thing. Our problems might not be the same and something that bothers me might be trivial to someone else but it’s all relative. Decide what it is that you want from your life, not what society says you should want or what is expected of you, but what you want. Then decide how you’re going to make that happen. It’s your life, live it your way. And stop worrying about tomorrow, whatever is going to happen will happen whether you lose a night of sleep over it or not, tackle issues when they arrive.
7. Switch off and slow down - we all seem to hurtling around all the time now, so take some time to step off the crazy train and savour life a little slower. Turn off the notifications from that one app that keeps going off (I did this with news alerts after the US election, I don’t want that BS being sprung on me 24/7), put your phone on it’s “do not disturb” mode and leave it somewhere you won’t be checking it every 15 seconds or just turn it off altogether. Since the start of the year I’ve been deliberately ignoring a lot of my social media for a few weeks, sure it makes me a terrible blogger but I’ve enjoyed it and now I don’t feel overwhelmed with trying to keep up. This also fits with tailoring your expectations; you don’t need to be connected 24/7, if you don’t comment on the latest news story within 5 minutes of it happening the world will keep on turning I promise (this has been a hard lesson for me as a writer). Take some time to yourself, watch that show you’ve been waiting for, read a book you’ve had on your shelf for months, go for a walk and look at the new spring flowers, watch some birds going about their day (some blue tits have just moved into our birdhouse, very exciting) or have a long bath. Whatever makes you feel relaxed is something you should be committed to making time for.

So that’s my 7 things you should be doing in 2017, obviously not exclusive to those of us still in our 20s but it’s a good decade to make long lasting changes that will benefit us for years to come.


If you have any tips of your own, I’d love to hear them so drop me a comment below!

Stay safe, x