Naturally Beautiful - Purple

I'm in love with nature's stunning purple and fuchsia this summer. 

Lavender image Sisley Garden Emporium

My lavender plant is looking particularly stunning this year (probably due to the huge amount of rain we've had in the UK) and I can't help noticing purple beauty everywhere! Apparently purple symbolises - royalty, magic and mystery - ah so that's why I love it so!

So here's some of nature's finest visual eye candy for you...

Stunning lilac stairway via Muileh Skincare on Pinterest

I would so love to visit Purple Haze Lavender Farm in Washington 

http://www.purplehazelavender.com/photos.html

Simple but so stunning. Image via Chic Provence

I want a garden like this - NOW - pretty please!

Phudak78 at Deviant Art

And this - oh I could while away many an hour here with my beloved Kindle! Image via Home Interior Design

Aubergines really are a beautiful vegetable. They are smooth, satin soft, plump with just the right amount of firm - just like a baby's bottom! Plus they are incredibly versatile, soak up flavours are super good for you as they are packed full of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, folic acid and beta-carotene!

In Chinese medicine they are great for clearing food stagnant in the intestine, haemorrhoids and heat in the digestive system. Read more at Ping Ming Health.

Image via Madhvi's Foolproof Recipes

When we were kids I was obsessed with the fuchsia bush in the front garden of a house in the next street - I used to imagine them turning into fairy ballerinas at night! Apologies to whoever owned the plant for all the discarded popped flowers on the pavement - erm it was me sorry!!

Stunning purple sunset

Image via Thursday Sweet Treat

I am fascinated with India, one day I'll get to visit.

Such stunning colours in the Spice Market At Mysore

WOW Bangalore flower market.
Image via Ojosdalits' photostream on Flickr

In India Head Massage we work on balancing the Chakra's (spinning energy channels). The Crown Chakra is purple/violet, it's also known as the Third Eye. It relates to inner vision, self knowledge and spiritual awareness. If it is balanced and unblocked – we have intuition, good memory, are perceptive and at peace. If it's out of balance and blocked – we have poor vision, anxious nightmares and are forgetful.

Chakras spinning energy channels. Image via Media Photobucket

Actually it's I've just realised it's not a recent obsession, even my wedding bouquet 6 years ago was made with purple Calla Lilies!

Made especially for me by my very clever mother-in-law!

Bye for now!

Why Does a Beauty And Health Blog Feature Cupcakes?

My husband asked me this question the other day...

Well...

My 'Beautiful Cupcake Gallery' started off with a 'Beauty' theme and was such a success it grew from there. As the weeks went by I discovered other cupcakes I thought were equally beautiful and I just had to share - sharing is healthy! 

Not only are my Galleries fun to do, but little boy gets involved as he loves scanning the web for inspiration with me; so quality family time is involved - very healthy and incredibly important to me and my family.

To me a healthy life isn't just about looking after your body with products and food; it's also about an all round balance and a huge extra portion of enjoyment.

I love to feed my family and friends, so I share my recipes.

I adore reading, so I share my favourite books.

I love visiting beautiful places, so I share these too.

My blog is about helping you to live a healthier happier life and...

I truly believe that you should...

however...

because we are on this planet to....

so...

ENJOY SOME CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

preferably made with excellent quality ingredients and home baked hee hee!

Images via:

Question cupcake - Flickr

Precious moments - My Fun Cards

Take care of your body - Healthy Life Tool Kit

Everything in Moderation - Etsy

Live Laugh Love - Yours Truly Was Here

Baby eating cake - Jen P Photo

100% Support for Martha Payne School Dinners Blogger and Charity Superstar

No doubt you have seen 9 year old Martha Payne from Argyll in the news recently, this inspirational young lady has proved how powerful social media can be regardless of age or location.

Future UNICEF ambassador? Image via Digital Spy

Martha is the author of NeverSeconds blog where she takes pictures of her school dinners, gives each one a ‘food-o-meter’, in depth description, health rating, how many mouthfuls it took her to eat it and I love this one – how many pieces of hair! Jamie Oliver our school dinner’s revolutionist has endorsed this site – not bad for a 9 year old!

Image via Telegraph

This Thursday Martha posted her head teacher had told her not post any more photographs for the blog and the council had imposed the ban. This caused an absolute outrage, she now has had over 4 million hits (and growing by the second) on her blog and made the headlines worldwide.

10/10 for this one. 

Image via NeverSeconds

Roddy McCuish council leader for Argyll and Bute Council instructed an immediate lift on the ban – and rightly so – what happened to freedom of speech?! What she is doing is positive NOT negative, she even rated one meal 10/10!

Her blog is also a platform to raise money for a Mary’s Meal kitchen in Malawi. Mary's Meals is:

“an international movement that sets up school feeding projects in communities where poverty and hunger prevent children from gaining an education.” 

Is this the work of a troublesome youth? Err I think NOT!

I’m ecstatic to say due to the coverage she has had, she has managed to raise a WHOPPING £45,889.46!!!!!! NA NA NA NA NA!

Image via Marys Meals Liiberia

If you would like to help Mary’s Meals visit Just Giving.com NeverSeconds to donate to this incredibly worthy cause.

As you know I am passionate about what we eat and what goes into our family’s tummies is right near the top of the priority list – loving each other to bits comes first!

It’s so reassuring that our future mummies and daddies are taking a keen interest on their health. Keep up the good work sweetie you have my 100% support - oh and when reading this out to my 6 year old son - he said you have his too!

xxx

Looking After Our Precious Teeth!

Today has been a big day for my little family; our 6 year old son had a big tooth removed as it has severe decay. He was extremely brave, bless him and has bounced back fantastically. Don't worry I won't show you his tooth!

Image via http://www.forlifeandstyle.com

We have always prided ourselves on having a healthy, balanced and freshly prepared diet, with the odd treat here and there. So you can imagine we were absolutely mortified when we were told it and the opposite one would have to be removed and that if he was an adult it would require a root canal!!

Image via Natural Health Tips

After chatting to the dentist we were relieved to discover the cause of the decay wasn't through negligence (we were told he has fantastic oral hygiene - phew!!) In fact her daughter had a very similar problem with the same teeth; we then discovered both of our children were raised mainly on Soya Milk and she is convinced that caused the decay.

Image via http://lactosefreemilk-s.com

Once I had stopped breast feeding, he was prescribed a special Hydrolysed formula (partly digested whey proteins) by our GP, as his lil tummy couldn't tolerate the large milk proteins in cow's milk. We then moved him on to mainly Soya Milk, ensuring it was non GM and organic. As the unsweetened variety tastes like cardboard, we decided to opt for the one sweetened with apple juice. He also had a very slow weaning process (nearly 2 years) as his digestive system was so sensitive. He was renowned for being a pained baby.

Image via http://www.itsamummyslife.com

I'm not berating Soya Milk in any way, but it appears to be the acid in the apple juice that sweetens it that has contributed to the decay, together watered down apple juice (he didn't like water) and healthy snacks; such as raisins and dried fruit bars - which we now understand their sticky texture tends to grip to the teeth! You can't win can you?!? These are great things to give your child and a much better option than sweeties, but following the tips given at the end will help you decide the right time to give them.

Interestingly when we spoke to our family Acupuncturist, he asked which teeth were decayed, when I said the 2nd back bottom teeth on either side, he said "Ah that makes sense, these point to the stomach meridian (energy pathways) and the digestive system" - fascinating!

Links between the teeth and the body.

Image via http://www.drnirvana.com/your-teeth-and-your-health

So What Causes Tooth Decay? 

Your mouth is full of bacteria; this combined with small food particles and saliva form a sticky film - plaque, which builds up on your teeth. When you have food and drink high in carbohydrates (sugary or starchy), the bacteria in the plaque turn the carbohydrates into the energy they need and produce acid. And over time, the acid in the plaque starts to break down the surface of your tooth.

Why not change your cane sugar to tooth kind Xylitol like we have? I've written an article about the benefits of this tasty, healthy, natural sugar: Delicious, Healthy and Tooth Friendly Carrot Cake - Yes Really!

Here are some simple tips we've gathered from dentists and my favourite nutritionist, dietician and chef Jane Clarke, to give your whole families toothy pegs the best chance of a long healthy life!

Image via LOC

1. Sweet foods aren't just foods containing sugar; they also include fruit, fruit juices, smoothies, sucrose, glucose, honey, maple syrup and starchy foods which convert to sugar (carbohydrates). 
2. 'No added sugar' doesn't mean it doesn't mean its sugar free!
3. Brush teeth before breakfast if having fruit or fruit juice OR wait one hour after eating or drinking anything acidic before brushing.
4. When brushing spit out the toothpaste, do not rinse out with water; this will wash away the fluoride coating that protects your teeth throughout the day.
5. Use a straw when drinking acidic drinks to reduce contact with teeth. We let our son choose his own straws to make it more fun.
6. Drink water between meals instead of juice and fizzy drinks 
7. Diet drinks aren't any better as they, as well as the 'full fat' versions contain acids, which have been said to draw calcium from our bones. Sugar and acid combined give the teeth a double hit.
8. Chew sugar-free gum for 10 minutes after meals, this will produce more saliva to help neutralise the acid in the mouth. We use Orbit Complete® with Xylitol.
9. Finish a meal with cheese or milk to help neutralise any acids.
10. Avoid giving food an hour before going to bed as you don't produce as much saliva when you are asleep.
11. Avoid snacking between meals, this limits the times the teeth are under attack from acids.
12. If having sweet treats, juice or fizzy drinks, give them with a meal rather than on their own.

Life would be Très Boring if we didn't have the occasional treat, everything in moderation I say. So these little toothy treats are dedicated to our gorgeous brave boy, who has a major sweet tooth (like his mum LOL)!

Image via kCreative Cake Pops

These were made a dental student Erica Sweet Tooth who has a passion for baking! Don't worry she's not trying to give us all cavities, like me she just believes in everything in moderation.

These were made for a Dental Practice grand opening by Sweet Simplicity Confections

Image via Azucar Con Amor

Cake for her dentist by Jocelyn Cakes

Chicken Pox - Natural Remedies

Chickenpox is doing the rounds again, one of my clients little girls has it and popped a comment on Facebook asking for advice, which lit the fire for this post!

Image via http://babesabouttown.com

Chickenpox is a common childhood disease. It is highly contagious and is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, part of the herpes family. It can be very uncomfortable and can vary in its severity. A child or adult can catch chickenpox, which develops into itchy, fluid-filled blisters that erupt and form a crust.

It can be a severe illness, but in Chinese medicine is it seen as eventually bringing benefits to the child, in relation to the process of growing up and expelling poisons from the body - Extract from Natural Medicine for Children by Julian Scott MA PHD 

Baths 
Baths are very soothing and should be with luke warm water. For best results, soak for about 15 minutes. Be careful to gently pat the skin dry to avoid lifting the scabs - ouch!

Hee hee this cool bumble bee bath would cheer any poorly kid up!
Image via http://theluxhome.com

Oatmeal Bath
Give them a Cleopatra style milky bath - take a few handfuls of porridge oats* (rolled oats not the likes of Oats So Simple!) into a sock or muslin cloth and tie. Pop it in when you start running the bath. Oats are soothing, anti inflammatory and anti bacterial. Squeeze it over the body when the bath is ready, you will get a lovely thick milky liquid. You can also add a few tablespoons of healing bicarbonate of soda to the running bath.
* Not to be used for anyone with sensitivity to gluten

Image via http://naturelivings.blogspot.co.uk

Tea Bag Baths!
Pop 2 to 3 tea bags into a running bath:
Chamomile - soothes the skin
Nettle tea - helps relieve itchy skin
Peppermint - calms and cools the skin
Or make a cup of the tea, keep covered and use throughout the day to bathe the affected areas with a cotton pad or muslin.

Image via http://www.soapdelinews.com

The above remedies are also great for soothing eczema, psoriasis, prickly heat and sunburn.

Aromatherapy
Add 5 drops of both healing Lavender and anti inflammatory Chamomile German to 100ml of Calamine lotion or cream. Shake/stir well before use.
(Always do a patch test first, on the inner elbow to check there are no sensitivities)

Image via http://www.nightingalehealth.co.uk

Alternative Therapies
My family and I have found Bach Flower Remedies, Homoeopathy and Acupuncture extremely helpful for all sorts of illnesses and it's reassuring to know there are other options than the conventional drug route.


Bach Flower Remedies
Chicory, Hornbeam or Cherry Plum may help relieve irritation. For more information on remedies visit Bach Original Flower Remedies.

Image via http://www.joanneburrell.com/blog/

Homoeopathic Remedies
This Homoeopathic Remedies for Chicken Pox article from Dana Ullman, M.P.H. (Masters in Public Health, U.C. Berkeley) has some great remedy suggestions. Dana is widely recognized as the foremost spokesperson for homoeopathic medicine in the U.S, author of 10 books and has a regular column at the The Huffington Post internet newspaper.

You can buy Homoeopathic and Bach Flower remedies from Holland and Barrett, Boots and other good health shops or online at Helios. Helios has a fantastic telephone service where you can speak to a qualified Homeopath for free advice. I am never without our Helios Nursery Kit or Basics Kit and I used their amazing Child Birth kit during and after having our son.

You can book in for a thorough consultation with a registered Homoeopath to achieve the best results. To find one near you, click here.

Here are some tips from Natural Medicine for Children by Julian Scott MA PHD. Julian is an experienced practitioner of natural medicines, specialising in herbal remedies and acupuncture. We were given this book as a gift from our family Acupuncturist Ferris Jerjis when our son was born and it has become invaluable to us:

1. During the feverish stage, keep your child quiet, preferably in bed.
2. Cotton gloves tied on the hands will help prevent a baby or young child from scratching the skin.
3. Cotton garments worn next to the skin are the most comfortable. (I still remember insisting on trying my new denim skirt with elasticated waist band and have the scar to prove it!)
4. When temperature starts to fall, start off with simple foods including cereal and porridge* as the digestive system will be weak.

Ahhhh soon your child will be back to this peaceful state of bliss... well I can't guarantee the peaceful bit lol!
Image http://www.sheknows.com/

As with all illness it is very important to drink lots of fluids particularly water, to flush the toxins away from the body. Regular drinks of calming Chamomile tea will soothe from the inside and help soothe the digestive system too (if necessary you can sweeten with a little honey it if your child is over 1 year).

Image via http://karenjeffery-acupuncture.com

I do hope this post helps anyone you know get relief from their pesky Chicken Pox. xx

Homemade Beauty Rituals - Avocados; don't just eat them!

Avocado is actually a fruit as it has a seed. It is one of the best beautifying ingredients Mother Nature has given us; feeding the skin from inside and out. It has unbelievable benefits containing everything we need to keep our skin cells healthy and smooth and helps the skin cells regenerate. It is jam packed with Essential Fatty Acids (EFA), B Vitamins (maintains healthy skin), Vitamin E (antioxidant), Beta Carotene (anti-ageing), Potassium (helps the growth of new skin cells) and the pulp nearest to the skin holds the most vitamins.

Image via http://www.garnier.ca

It contains rich oil which penetrates deeply into the epidermis. It is one of the best oils for soothing dry or dehydrated skins - look for darker oils as they have gone through the least processing. Studies have shown avocado oil increases collagen in the skin significantly, helping our skin stay younger for longer - I'm hooked!

Here's an interesting fact via http://www.takeourword.com

The word avocado comes from the Spanish word aguacate, which in turn is derived from the Aztec word ahuacatl which meant "testicle"... Nice!

Image via http://www.el3mentsofwellness.com

It is also fantastic for relieving the dryness and itching of psoriasis, eczema and is great for nourishing and softening mature, dry, dehydrated or sun damaged skin. All that in a big green testicle - who'd have thought it hey?!

Here are some ideas for including Avocado in your beauty rituals at home:

Amazing and Cheap Body Exfoliator 
Rub the inside of the avocado skin all over your body to remove the dead skin cells. Do this just before you take a shower, otherwise you'll look like The Incredible Hulk! Your body will be left feeling super smooth!

Image via http://hairtreatment2011.com

Nourishing and Smoothing Avocado and Honey Face Mask
1. Mash up half an avocado
2. Add 2 teaspoons of honey*, mix well.
3. Spread over your face, neck and decollate (chest area).
4. Lie back, relax and leave for 15-20 minutes.
5. Why not pop a couple of slices from the other half under your eyes - great for reducing puffiness (lie still mind!)
6. Result - a face as smooth as a baby's bot!
*Honey is soothing and also a mild antiseptic so pesky bacterium can't survive in it!
If you are allergic to honey, just leave it out.

Arghh childhood nightmares coming back!!

Image via http://scifimafia.com 

Here are some great tips from Super Food Profiles on the benefits of Avocado Oil for Eczema and Psoriasis sufferers: Treating Eczema With Avocado Oil and Psoriasis, Avocado Oil and Fish Oil – A Topical Treatment.

Hope you enjoyed this post. Would love to know what you think and if you try any of the recipes xxx