Beautiful Beyond Belief

10 Easy Steps to Start Developing Inner Beauty

10 easy steps to inner beauty mp3

Psychologists and surveys are eager to tell us about who we really are. You can't pick up a magazine without someones expert view or analysis these days!

 

Our human nature is being based on or defined, often by a logical analysis of what makes a beautiful human being, or the media and the fashion trends.

I believe we are human "beings" not just "doings". I'm continually recognising, through all of my personal challenges and experiences to grow but also become more aware of returning to a simpler way of being. It's more about allowing and accepting rather than striving, analysing and needing to understand.

This primarily entails going inside, stopping the "struggle, competition and doing" (although I do believe in inspired action - action which is internal and joyful rather than externally inspired).

Ancient spiritual knowledge and wisdom, has a lot to teach us. The core principle is to get in contact with that still small voice, which only speaks when we are giving it space to be heard.

So maybe ask yourself how you are listening to you and others? Are you listening at all?

Are we listening from a "fast food",give it me now perspective, because I only have 10 minutes and need to be onto the next urgent thing to complete our to do list? Are we forming habits and practices that support connecting with ourselves?

If we do have practices, they are often really personal, what works for me may not work for you. I encourage you to try some to see if they make a difference for you.

Finding what works takes a little time. What's great for one person doesn't work for another. Here are some ideas to get you going.

1. Firstly give yourself permission to have some me time - even if it is only 10 minutes - decide that no guilt is necessary. Create a personal boundary, just like you would with a business meeting or making space for a valued client, this has the added benefits of sending an unconscious message that you are worth it therefore raising self esteem.

2. give yourself the space to find out what is going on internally - that means no noise or distractions and definitely no multi tasking (I know this can be hard because there are so many things pressing on our time and our thoughts).

3. It maybe useful to use what is called trance in NLP terms (similar to a meditative state)- this is a trance state of being which allows you to tap into your unconscious mind, sometimes when I feel in a place of struggle or mentally tired I put on a CD and go into trance when I finish the trance I feel mentally refreshed and relaxed (or you could use a visualisation). You allow yourself to let go both mentally and physically - you give up control. Control can be overrated, when we let go, ironically we can tap into a place of really trusting ourselves and our inner knowledge to help us with our daily lives.

4. Pick some soothing music if that helps you relax (preferably something without a tune to follow) .

5. Go somewhere where there is good light and the conditions are comfortable (ie warm or cool so you won't get distracted and make sure you aren't hungry, turn off the phone and computer) eg. soft sofa, lying on your bed, outside in your garden, or in a quiet park whatever is good for you.

6. If you want to make notes take your journal with you.

7. Now be - allow whatever needs to come up to do so without judgement, give yourself the space.

8. At the end ask yourself the question "what is the most loving thought or deed you could do either for yourself or others today" - this is training yourself to raise your consciousness and this will affect your relationships with everyone in your life.

9. If you slip up and start getting negative, don't judge it, just return to where you were, be forgiving toward yourself.

10. Relax and let go - surrender - it will free you up from the "struggle" you may feel, there is lightness and flow about being this way. It may take a bit of practice, that's ok, be patient with yourself it's not a competition. You may be learning this for the first time and it may feel awkward, frustrating, strange, or even slightly weird. Most things can feel out of our comfort zone when we start, if this the case, don't force it, try it for a shorter time until you can build up, if 10 minutes is too long try just 5 minutes.

Let me know what you think, what are your best tips for inner beauty?

Can Beauty Transform Your Business?

Here is an unusual article I wanted to share with you by David Neagle. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David, is a very successful business coach in the US.  He also works with Ali Brown, a business coach too, on various projects (see below) both have 7 figure businesses.  Ali is pretty much a self made woman with a background in copy-writing, originally she was known as the Ezine queen, for her effective newsletters - this is how she started out in her business.

In the article below, David discusses our relationship with our beauty, the beauty around us, our perceptions of ourselves and others and how that, can be directly influencing you and therefore your business. 

It's interesting to hear, from two very successful business individuals, their thoughts about the impact of a beautiful mind and surroundings have.  It may not be such a fluffy subject as some might think, especially when it can directly contribute to your bottom line.  If a millionaire is doing it then may be it has merit...?

It's a light read, but it gives some food for thought and a reminder that we can create what we want by our actions, the focus of our thoughts,what we put into our environment and the positive changes that creates. 

For a different angle, I am just focusing on our environment, to get you going - David also covers other issues. 

So just consider where you work.  What is your office like, or if you don't have your own office, what your desk and office space is like.  What does it say about you?  Is it organised or the opposite, do you feel productive and energized or stressed?  Does it help you to be creative or does it trigger a sense of work and challenge?

Below is Ali's business office.  Something she says most of her high paying clients (who pay around £100,000 each to work with her) want to take a look.  Ali's home is in LA near the beach and where she holds her private consultations.(Can't you just hear the waves on the sea shore?) 

Her clients are very curious apparently. So here is a sneak peak for free, to give you an idea of a millionaries home office for insight and inspiration.

 

Below are some action steps you might want to consider after reading the article below (so maybe skip ahead and come back here):

• consider your environment and how you view others. It's easy to create an office to love for example. Even without any budget just rearrange it in a way that really supports you e.g. get closer to the window so you have a good view and great light. Never have your back to the door always be in view of it, put up pictures that you love and inspire you, if you like vision boards then put those up too or even get a vision board on your computer.
• Do something small today, perhaps for you it is having some music, fresh flowers. I loved it when I rearranged my office. Get some inspiration from Oprah's office - something to aspire to?

Here are a couple of video's to give you some ideas about getting your space more organised, one for clutter and one to set up a filing system. I've trawled through quite a few video's just to try to pick ones which actually give useful tips and ideas you can apply right now.  For those of you who have to file your taxes here is a good link to get those organised too rather than scrambling when it comes to the end of the year!

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I felt lighter and more energised. I was doing something for me, it's a simple step to self loving, and allows us to then give more to others.  

You might not think you have time, or maybe the money.  It cost me nothing I used what I had, I stopped putting it off and avoided saying - "I'll do that later there are more important things to be doing" - does that sound familiar?  Excuses really! Start where you are at, even if you do one change, it will create momentum. 

• You might also like to schedule some time, just like an appointment with a client.  Schedule time with your office or surroundings and see it as an investment not a cost.  It's an investment in your mental and physical health.  What is that worth to you?.....

Article #11 in David Neagles: 

   "7 Mindset & Manifesting Secrets of Multimillionaire Entrepreneurs" Series

 
     SECRET 4 of Multimillionaire Entrepreneurs:

                        Love                     

                        Let Beauty Transform Your Business                        

Too often we only think of beauty as something superficial: a pleasing appearance, a woman who catches your eye.                      

But if you've ever gazed at the wizened face of a very old, joyful person and thought that she or he was beautiful, then you have appreciated the true nature of beauty.                     

Thomas Troward wrote that beauty is the "externalization of harmony," and that harmony occurs when our powers of being ~ our thoughts, beliefs and actions ~ are coordinated within us and with the divine.                     

In other words, beauty comes from within, and we become more beautiful as we progress along our divine path.                  

The Relationship Between Love and Beauty 
Many of us were taught that it's wrong to acknowledge our own beauty or to love ourselves. Those teachings are inaccurate.                      

If you were created in the image of the divine, how could it be wrong to love yourself?                      

When you love yourself as an aspect of divine creation, you begin to see the divine in other individuals as well. You begin to see through the eyes of love.   Through those eyes of love you recognize beauty ~ your own and others' as well.                     

Embrace Beauty in Your Life and Business
Troward wrote that love and beauty are both key to the soul's life and evolution, and the success that we create while we're here.       That means if you embrace love and beauty, you will not only evolve as a human being, but see tangible results.                      

That's why I urge my clients and students to make their environment as beautiful and opulent as they can.                      

Buy beautiful furniture and arrange it in pleasing ways. Bring in fresh flowers. Buy a nice desk and put framed paintings or photographs on the walls of your office.                      

Also, wear the most beautiful clothes that you can afford.                      

Change your environment to match where you want to go.                     

Bring the evidence of thriving into your environment, where it will be reflected back to you and you will begin to trust that you can thrive in your business.                    

A person who really emulates this teaching is my sister multimillionaire entrepreneur, Ali Brown. She is a beautiful woman, who recognizes her own beauty and sees the beauty in other people. She dresses beautifully and always surrounds herself with pleasing things.                      

When she looks at all that elegance, it makes her happy. As she says, it connects her to the "resonance of waking up every day and feeling in love." And don't you think that impacts her business in positive ways? You bet it does.                     

Your Emotions Control What You Perceive
Whether positive or negative, your emotions control your perception.                     

When you allow love and beauty to permeate your perception, it is expanded, in harmony with the divine, who is love.                     

Not only do you see the divine and beauty in other people, but you also see opportunities where someone controlled by negative emotions would be looking for obstacles.                      

 You look for solutions where that person might dwell on problems.                     

You are more open to embracing something different that could lead to a breakthrough in your business.                      

Behold Your Own Beauty
Next time, I'm going to give you some action steps to help you embrace love and beauty, but until then, in addition to surrounding yourself with beautiful things, I want you to practice seeing yourself as beautiful.                      

It doesn't matter if you think you carry a few extra pounds or your hair is too thick or too thin. You are beautiful just as you are.                      

Look in the mirror, past any flaws, and see your divine beauty.                    

Keep looking until you see it.                     

Then, start looking for the beauty in other people as well.                     

Practice seeing through the eyes of beauty.                     

If you allow beauty and love to transform your perception, it won't be long before they transform the whole of your life ~ and business ~ as well.                     

A personal request from David:

Did the above article resonate with you?                          
                          Do you disagree?                          
                          Do you have an insight to add?                         
                          Do you have questions about the material?

If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts & questions. Please feel free to comment on the above article on my corresponding blog post here: http://www.davidneagle.com/secret4_love

 © Copyright 2011 - David Neagle's Life Is Now Inc., All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

David Neagle, Master Success Mentor, mentors entrepreneurs to quantum leap their current businesses past the 7-Figure income level in just 12 months. David invites you to download--as his GIFT to you--his legendary "Art of Success" 4-hour audio program. This audio series is a tremendously compelling and comprehensive program that demonstrates--once and for all--that Success has nothing to do with "getting" or "achieving", and everything to do with WHO we must BE to manifest our greatest desires.

8 Tips to Beat the Blues and feel good naturally

Continuing with the theme of feeling good here are some natural ways to beat the blues which some of us can feel from time to time

1.  St John's Wort- It's been scientifically proven to reduce mild to moderate depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), with doctors in Germany prescribing the herbal remedy over Prozac. However, some studies show that it isn't as effective in treating severe cases, so consult your GP.  Also the recent court ruling about herbs in EU may mean you need to track this down through a herbalist or specialist supplier.

2.  Acupuncture- A US study found that 64 per cent of sufferers beat depression after two to four months of acupuncture. To find your nearest qualified British Acupuncture Council practitioner visit the acupuncture site or call 020 8735 0400.

3.  Fish Oil- A substance found in fish oils called eicosapentanenoic acid (EPA) appears to be as effective as conventional antidepressant drugs, yet works faster.  The optimum amount for treating depression is 1000mg a day.  Visit to buy high strength capsules and hear about the benefits of fish oil from an interview by Stephen Fry and a Doctor.

4.  Exercise - All exercise has mood-boosting qualities but weight training is particularly good for depression, according to the journal of Ageing and Physical activity.  It found that adults who included this in their exercise programme were happier and calmer. Do at least two 20 minute sessions a week. 

Rebounding is also a great way to exercise easily and quickly.   It will strengthen your heart, increase your oxygen, stimulate your lymphs, improves balance, tone and define muscle, and increases your metabolism, it's also low impact on your joints.  It massages all your internal organs which helps to keep blood flow working well, the better they work the better you feel and look.

5.  Look after yourself- Nurture your emotional well being with activities such as Yoga and massage, eating a balanced healthy diet, avoiding too much alcohol which can worsen depression and taking time to relax and getting laughter into your life. 

How about renting a funny movie rather than dwelling on the news and scary films which stimulate our nervous systems.   It's a funny thing about TV, my experience is that is can alter our moods dramatically, remember how your body reacts when you jump at an unexpected moment.  Also it can often be quite empty, it's a fantasy world really, not real life, even documentaries are about others experiences (it can be escapism and I guess that can be part of the appeal) when we turn the TV off we still have to face life and it can leave us feeling hollow and unsatisfied.   I know it's challenging to get quiet e.g. through meditation but cultivating it can help to centre ourselves and draw strength from within rather than reaching outward.

The type of meditation that would be helpful to you is going to be a personal choice, however here are a couple to try, just to get going if this is new to you.

 

6.  Sharing your challenges - talking with someone about things that are bothering you can ease anxiety and working with a supportive professional. This can take the burden off the family, a partner or friend can only do so much, and who wants to be considered a demanding emotional partner?  If you go to an expert you can confidently deal with issues which take the pressure of your relationship. 

Let's face it listening is an advanced skill and is in short supply in our stressed out worlds.  Remember how you feel when someone gives you their undivided attention, they aren't waiting to put their opinions into the discussion they are just caring enough to want to genuinely hear what is important to you giving you space.  Sometimes all we want is to be heard.

As Mothers, working women we are busy often meeting everyones needs, it recharges our batteries to be heard by someone else.

7. Perhaps it's SAD - seasonal affective Disorder - one out of four of us suffers from it, and it happens in winter. It can leave us feeling sad, depressed, tired and lethargic.  It's not totally clear why it happens however one theory is that light entering the eye triggers a gland in the brain to stop producing melotonin (sleep hormone), other ideas are just a lack of sunshine, especially these days when lots of us stay indoors behind our computers.  SAD is a more actute form of the blues. 

What to do? Try to get as much light as possible, if indoors get near a window, go for a walk when the sun is out, exercise also helps and raises serotonin levels.  Avoid sugary carbs, go for whole foods and get plenty of Vitamin D.  LIght Box Therapy is 85% effective in most cases, just 10 mins a day in front of the light box can make a difference.  Costs are around £100 for medically approved boxes.  For more details try this link for more details to SAD.

8. Always find time to do something you love - I know life gets busy, who isn't?  Maybe someone who is retired....Ok, so for me it's about finding something, even if it's only one thing to enjoy.  I don't care how busy, broke, stressed or fed up you are it's sooooo important to love on yourself a little.  It's self care and we need it.  Don't expect it from others because they are probably expecting it from you, and expectations can build up resentments.  So what to do? 

What do you love to do, what's a treat to you, something you look forward to?  A soak in the tub, a meal you haven't had to cook at the end of the week (with zero washing up), a massage, a good movie, a night out, a romantic meal, a night away from the kids, time with your friends.. whatever it is do it!  I know this helps to keep me sane and it's so easy to neglect, put it off, think of others etc.  Even if you have to schedule it, schedule it.

I'd love to hear ideas of your own that have worked - post a comment so we can here what is working for you.

(if you are going to take supplements just check with your doctor first if it affects any of your other medication).

How to look 20 years younger - here's some of the proof from a 70 yr old!

I recently came across a lady called Mimi Kirk - she is in her 70's (yes you read that right!) was voted PETA's sexist Vegetarian over 50, wow!  So I just had to share it with you here.

Take a look at the clip below, Mimi seems like a grounded, loving and spiritual person and to top it all she has a partner nearly 20 years younger!

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Mimi lives in Hollywood, California and looks like she really loves life with a determined spirit, deciding to change the role models we may have in our mind of our Grand Parents generation (Mimi has four children and seven grand children). 

Mimi was a showgirl in Las Vegas in 1957, married in 1956 at 17, widowed in 1968. Since 1969 she worked in the entertainment business for 17 years in several tv and films including Stark Trek and many others... she was Mary Tyler Moore's stand-in in her hit sit com and designed clothes for Valerie Harper on Rhoda. In 1989 she founded, published and edited The City Planet, the environmental newspaper for greater Los Angeles.

I love that Mimi is being herself, slim, still wanting to look glam with beautiful long hair (which she admits isn't her natural colour) she finds it fun, staying totally feminine.  As part of doing things a little differently she also has what we call here in the UK a "toy boy", Mike Mendall who is 53! 

Mimi is involved in many exciting Projects and it's my sense that she is an intuitive person really trusting herself. She says "I thought more about goals when I was younger, I really don't make plans for the future". However since winning the PETA award she has what seems a second career, with speaking engagements, book writing and more I am sure.

Mimi does however have an thriving facebook page (which blossomed from 100 - 5000 people )where she seems actively involved with those who are interested in asking questions and learning more, you can access her website from there too (where she gives ideas and suggestions on food, and beauty products she uses), has a book coming out in May in US and I think in June in the UK called Live Raw - the natural way to Good health and timeless beauty through amazon and is considering that she may do more, it seems that she wants to "continue to help people find health and happiness".

Mimi has been a life long Vegetarian, over 40 years and she graduated into becoming a Vegan fairly recently.  This is what she says seems to have really made a difference, along with exercise, having love (from her family and a partner) joy and passion in her life.

Mimi says "I'm not sure all the anti-ageing products really can do anything for us, love what you see in the mirror, appreciate your body as it changes and ages, thank if for all it does for you and you will soon see beauty in yourself".

I also managed to track down a radio interview with Mimi and how she manages to look so great, also see below for more details about Mimi.

 

Listen to internet radio with Namaste Radio on Blog Talk Radio

 

I have to say after reading and listening to interviews, Mimi also seems really beautiful within.

My grateful thanks to Shannon Dunn from Ecobeautyeditor.com (who kindly let me use a few quotes from Mimi to wet your appetite about the interview she did with her) also it's a great beauty resource site, beautifully designed and conceived.

Do leave your comments and any great tips you have for looking great at whatever age.

Other viewpoints for Developing Inner Beauty

Suggestions For Developing Inner Beauty

Here is an article by Erin Song.  Erin covers some ideas about inner beauty.

Inner beauty is just as important as your outer beauty. There should not be any valid reasons why you cannot have both. In fact, if you develop a few inner qualities that other people can detect, you will seem more attractive even on the outside. Also, you will have more self confidence and more self assured. We will share a few helpful suggestions to help you get more inner beauty.

If you truly want to highlight your inner beauty, there are a few things that you should not practice. One of these involves gossiping and saying unfavorable things about other people. This is something many people do, whether it's at work, among friends in a bar or coffee shop or on the phone. People who like to gossip about other people are usually have a high popularity because they know how to get the conversation going and entertain others with their gossiping ways. But, people really do not trust them. This is because they know this person probably talks about them as well. So don't give in to the temptation of engaging in such behavior. It only makes you look bad on the inside.

Stress is one of the most important things you have to let go of to develop inner beauty. Stress can harm your health and your outward appearance too. But, even before it does these bad things, it will make you an undesirable person to interact with. It is hard to get rid of stress in this day and time. But, we can learn to reduce it and let go of it when we recognize it. Remember to take a long breath and breaks when you become frustrated. Be realistic when it comes to your perspective so that you do not become too stressed when you are late or miss a deadline. When you are less stressed out, you will appeal to others as more attractive and charming.

Spirituality means different things to different people. But, it can be an important part of your inner beauty. A few people have religion and are comforted in prayer or by readings from various books. For example, spending time in nature, observing a sunrise or sunset or looking at the stars at night can give you a sense of connection with the world or a higher power. Find what works for you in this area and spend a little time every day cultivating it. Read, watch and listen to material that uplifts you rather than things that bring you down. This will enhance your natural beauty and your peace of mind as well.

This article shows that anyone can increase their inner beauty if they work at it. Physical beauty is not something that you can control. But, no matter what our outward beauty is, we can somewhat control our inner beauty. The above tips are good to use when you begin to enhance your inner beauty. You can also find methods of your own that work for you.


Article Courtesy of Informative-Articles.com

What are your thoughts?  Are you developing your inner beauty, where are you going to start?

How to create a Beautiful Face & Reverse the signs of Ageing

Today, I want to share with you, a wonderful new book by someone who has been SO inspiring for me personally both from a health and mindset perspective.  His name is Markus Rothkranz based in USA (although I understand his family originates from Germany).

 If you are willing, the information I am about to share with you can help to transform how you look, think, and feel about yourself and your life.  It is not just about beauty, it is deeper than that.

The video and audio at the bottom of this blog post will give you an idea of the work Markus is involved in as do all the links to his sites I have included below. 

When I say work, I really see it as a passion of his.  Markus is an Author, Filmmaker, Artist, leading Raw Foodist and speaker and is flown all over the world to lecture about true natural health the way nature intended and becoming radically younger in the process. He is inspired to help people in bigger ways to heal themselves.  He says " My purpose is to create the most inspirational experiences possible for all of humanity and life on this planet".

He believes, as I do, that we CHANGE not by being lectured at but by being INSPIRED. 

He has recently launched his new book “Heal Your Face Naturally without Surgery – by healing your body and your life”.  

Markus told me that -  "People from all over the world are ordering it. It's really hitting a nerve. The ones that have read it say it's much more real than anything their doctors or even naturopaths have told them" 

So clearly it is speaking to people and he has very geneoursly let me review a copy here for you.

But first here is a quick video to inspire you and give you some background to the book.

The book comes in 2 forms either paperback or e-book it's your choice, Markus takes a holistic approach to our health, it is more than just about your face.  It helps you consider your life, lifestyle, attitudes, thoughts and your body. 

Markus is very direct in his writing, very honest and blunt.  I find his honesty really refreshing, you are left in no doubt about what he thinks and what he believes works. 

As he says in the photo below "I pratice what I preach" and this is why his message is so compelling.

At times it really makes me laugh (from a good place!) because I feel he says what we are thinking but often unwilling to say or admit ourselves, he has a complete conviction about what he says and does – so energetically this translates across the pages in a powerful way.

This is probably because Markus' personal story is so dramatic, he searched for 30 years to heal himself (being a very sickly child and adult as his picture above indicates aged 27) and nearly dying several times.

The book consists of 17 chapters and is over 200 pages, it’s written in a conversational style with lots of detailed information. 

You will be able to check symptoms you are experiencing and why, what your body is trying to tell you by those symptoms and what to do to change things, e.g. eye bags, wrinkles, lines by the nose etc.

The heart of the book is about getting to the root causes, if we let our bodies (and that includes our faces) heal naturally then we can reverse and improve our natural looks, and often create more beauty in the process without the need for painful surgery, potions or expensive and abrasive face creams, injections or chemicals and he suggests that we can do this very inexpensively if we are willing to do what it takes to give our bodies a chance.

Some of the fundamentals are – becoming aware of what you are doing, internal cleansing - what we need to do to help our bodies look younger, understanding how everything in the body is connected, changing what we feed our bodies consciously, how we use our energy, habits we need to adopt for optimum beauty, including our thinking, potent herbs and anti-oxidants, how to treat your skin so it looks radiant.  There is a wealth of information about different herbs, vitamins and minerals and foods so you can understand how they help and the effects they will have on you.

Chapters include:

1. Fountain of Youth, 2.A New way of looking, 3. Everything is connected 4. Nothing is Random 5. Time to be beautiful again 6. Everything is Energy 7. The Plumber 8. Reading the Head and Face 9. Reading the other body parts 10. Oh Yeah 11. AGE-FREE 12. The most important Healing Factor of all 13. Liver 14. Kidneys 15. The wonder from the Sea 16. Large Intestine 17. SKIN

If you know little about natural health and eating this book will give you a great start.  I also encourage you to get Markus’ other fundamental book Heal Yourself 101Click here to visit HealthCures101.com. which I have also read and it has helped me personally understand what I need to be doing better with my own health. 

I previously followed a raw food diet for 6 years, and his books have reinspired me to get back into adding much more raw food to my diet (I currently have at least 50% raw food as a veggie but want to increase this figure).  He explained what I was doing wrong and why I had problems after 6 years and that was a real relief as I really couldn't find the answers I needed anywhere else.  It is also very helpful in terms of clearly stating how to do the cleansing process, that Markus talks about in his new book.

For more insights about Markus and his work listen to this audio interview, or watch the video below.

So get the book here - don't delay in your quest to become the most beautiful you!

 

What to wear in Summer, on holiday and when travelling!

I recently came across this helpful article I wanted to share with you. It's called "what to wear on a flight" as I know now the school holidays have started our minds turn to getting away with family and friends. 

What to wear on a flight - It’s July, and I’m sure some of you will be jetting off for warmer climates  – and with the recent rainfall in the past couple of days, who could blame you?! If you’re going to be on a long haul flight, here are our tips for what to wear on a flight so you can keep comfy and still look stylish at the same time!

1. Layering is a must! Whether it’s a rainy or sunny day here before takeoff you must consider what the weather will be like at your destination and the aircon on planes.

2. A scarf is a good option to have if you feel a little nippy, as is a lightweight jacket (we will be featuring lightweight linen jackets soon!) or cardigan to cover up. Both these things can be used to layer up on the plane or worn before and then taken off if needs be.

3. Don’t let VB fool you into thinking you have to wear heels on a plane. Flats are a must! Wear flats that have details on them like studs or flats that are brightly coloured if you want to add a glamorous touch. Lizzie loves Bloch shoes, so be sure to check them out for comfy fun flats!

4. Loose clothing is a good way to keep comfy. I love this loose dress from American Apparel. Cinch in loose fitting garments with a belt before boarding if you wish and take the belt off on the plane for ultimate comfort.

5. A bag that is big enough to fit all of your onboard essentials such as that scarf or jacket or cardi we talked about. We will also be blogging about the best bags to take on a flight soon, so be sure to keep an eye out for our picks! The best bags are sort of deceptively big – they fit far more things than they appear and bags that aren’t so structured so that they can be squeezed below a chair or up in the overhead compartments.

Other Useful resources and tips:

I've also sourced another link from Style specialists take a look here this should help you also put together a summer capsule wardrobe.

With thanks to by Alison Yau and Lizzie Edwards from Babet style consultancy for her mix of fashion, image and keeping us all current with her fresh approaches, and style specialists.

Beauty Tips - How to get thicker hair

Let's look at some hair basics. Hair is made from a protein like substance called keratin, and as we age for most of us our hair thins, hair growth is faster in the summer and a single hair can live up to 1 year.  

Hair growth and texture can be sensitive to change, especially a change in diet, hormonal levels (it is thought the increased levels of testosterone play a part), pregnancy etc.  It even responds to life changes, moving house, divorce, change in job any stresses in your life.  Also it responds to changes of location, eg. tap water contains minerals that your body is used to absorbing.

Variations in the levels of zinc, magnesium, proteins, fatty acids, iron, can all cause hair loss.  Also your genes do play a part too.  Thinning hair can be a sign of detoxification.

Hair grows for a particular time, then rests. At the end of this rest period, it falls out, and hopefully is replaced by new growth.  I say hopefully because problems arise when this natural process changes for some reason, and the cycles get confused which can cause hair loss, which is common when we have multiple changes and stresses in our lives.

A change in diet, e.g. increased junk food, detox, or poor eating habits where the diet isn't balanced can have an effect.  Especially during a detox or cleanse, old hair can die and when replaced the follicles are stronger creating more luxurious hair.

Growing hair does however, take time.  The usual growth period is two to six months before you may notice a real change of texture.  Hair is essentially an extension of your blood. The health of your blood and your scalp determine the state of your hair and its growth.  Removing as many toxins as possible  give your hair the best chance of improving.

We naturally lose some hair on a daily basis, only when hair loss reaches 30% or more do we actually start to notice.  This can be an alarming experience especially if you have always had a good head of hair and it may also be one of your best features.

What can you do about it? - here are some ideas:

• The first place to start always is to check with your doctor, or a naturopath - they can do blood tests to see exactly what is going on, it could be mineral deficiencies, dietary, or hormonal issues there maybe other underlying reasons so it's important to know what it is so you can apply the right solution;
• Consider improving your diet - again tests can show where deficiencies are, consider either seeing nutritionist, or removing the junk food and replacing with more nutrient dense food, e.g. leafy green veg, lean meats, whole grains and dried fruits, eight to ten glasses of water per day, limited intake of refined carbohydrates, reduce saturated fats add more essential fatty acids e.g. omega, 3, 6,9 hemp seed oil is a good choice, you can find these in most supermarkets or health food shops. Reduce tea, coffee, sugar, salt, and fizzy drinks.
• Take another look at how you manage your time and priorities - can you remove or say no to things that are adding additional stress
• Make sure you are getting enough rest, this is the time the body uses to repair itself and your hair is part of that process.  When the body is under additional pressure hair and nails often suffer as the body diverts resources to other more important activities of the body leaving less for these areas.
• Indian Head massages - sometimes if we are under a lot of stress the capillaries to the scalp become smaller reducing blood flow, by having a massage it helps to loosen up the scalp and encourages blood flow.
• Getting a good haircut can improve the look of thickness so talk to your hairdresser and explain what you need rather than sticking to what you know.
• Consider the following - Increase your level of B vitamins (take a complex) as these get used in during stressful times and help to retain hair colour too! B6 is especially helpful for women taking the pill which can affect hair loss - it's important to try to take a complex otherwise it can cause other deficiencies.
• Increasing your Zinc essential for hair growth 30mg daily
• Consider looking at herbs that balance your hormones naturally some herbs that help are: dong quai, black cohosh, sage,  taking the herb vitex agnus castus which helps to reduce testosterone levels which does affect hair loss and growth of hair in other places (e.g. more facial hair) - speak to a qualified herbalist if you choose this root as herbs have powerful effects on the body.

Try a hair booster here is an example:

Apple cider vinegar (try to pick an organic one, which is available from most supermarkets or health food stores) is a popular hair and scalp booster because it is rich in alpha hydroxy acids, which assist with ex-foliation, have antibiotic properties, and regulate the PH of the scalp.  Patricia Bragg from her book Apple Cider Vinegar: Miracle Health System recommends the following:

1. 1. 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (mixed with a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper)

2.   Apply to thinning areas 1hr before shampooing - shampoo as normal.

3.   Before going to bed mix a royal jelly capsule with 1tsp of apple cider vinegar apply on thinning area and leave overnight, wash out in the morning.  

 

Also take a look at this video to give you some ideas about how to create thicker hair through your diet, here is a quick juice you can try.

 

Let me know what you think and how you get on, do please leave comments here, any of your own concerns or offer our readers ideas of your own that have worked for you.

Natural Anti ageing skincare - What to consider Part 1

Are you confused about skincare?  Do you find that there is so much choice that you either buy everything under the sun or you stick to what you know?  Are your drawers full of all types of pots and potions? 

There have been many times when I have walked into a shop selling beauty products and walked out again because I found it over facing.  How do you know what to use and does it really work?

My advice is keep it simple.  I like to use a natural product on my skin. The reason is that the skin is the largest organ of the body, what we put on it gets absorbed directly into our blood stream.  The more chemicals we put on our skin the higher the toxic load we expect our bodies to deal with. This is ageing in itself, and requires a lot of detoxification primarily by the liver.

I also find because I have a sensitive and dry skin (partly due to being a redhead) my skin tells me when it doesn't like something, e.g. a creme might sting, bring me out in red patches etc. Never tolerate anything that is uncomfortable, remove it immediately as this is a sign of an allergic reaction.

Most truly natural skincare products contain antioxidants. What are antioxidants and what is so special about them? Antioxidants are substances which fight the free radicals in the body which are responsible for various skin problems. These free radicals damage the cells in your body and cause several health problems – right from premature skin ageing to cancer. Antioxidants fight these free radicals, neutralize them, and prevent them from damaging your body. So, an antioxidant organic face creme can be very effective at treating your skin problems and can keep your skin young.

Natural vitamin E, nano-lipobelle H EQ10, and grape seed oil are some of the most powerful organic antioxidants available today. Make sure you buy a good antioxidant organic face creme with these ingredients to get the best results. Phytessence wakame, active manuka honey, and Cynergy TK are some other organic ingredients that are incredibly effective and can reverse the ageing process in your skin and keep it young and soft. So, look out for these ingredients while buying a face creme.

A good place to start to source a creme is your local health food shop.  Take a good look around at their products, ask for advice, some shops owners are very well informed others less so.  Often a face creme can start from as little at £8 for a 125gm pot, compare that with department store prices of £30+ upwards for a pot of 50gm cream.

However any natural products (e.g. plant and natural oil based products) do usually work slower.  In my experience it can take about 3 months of continual use to notice a difference so it is important to stick with it for a while. Remember that nature takes its time but ends up being much longer lasting and often the price of natural products is significantly smaller than more commercial products.  They have to factor in expensive marketing, packaging and sales staff which often goes into making profits for the company rather than the quality of the product.

Below are a few ideas for you to take a look at firstly there are some interesting videos talking about the best creams to use for anti ageing and a few tips about the best type of anti oxidant foods which work on the free radicals.  There is also a list of websites and products you might want to try.  What I realise is that it is important to try different products until you start to see the results you are looking for.

I'll be talking more about products in future blogs but for now take a look below.

Below is a great resource list of cruelty free products it's always a good idea to support such products on the whole they tend to have better ingredients (but not always) and it feels good to know that no animal has had to suffer so I can look good.

CRUELTY-FREE COSMETICS & TOILETRIES

The independent health food shops listed sell a wide range of cruelty-free cosmetics, toiletries and household products. Items not usually stocked may be ordered by customers. Most supermarkets stock some cruelty-free cosmetics and toiletries and own brand household products. Labels such as “not tested on animals” refer to the final product and may contain ingredients which have been animal tested and animal ingredients.

mail order include:
Barry M Cosmetics, Beauty Without Cruelty  Camilla Hepper
Culpeper,Dolma, Faith in Nature 
Green People,  Honesty Cosmetics 
Kingfisher  ,Kiss My Face 
Lavera ,Liz Earle  
 Napiers   Natracare   Original Source  (mail order discount for Animal Aid, Vegan Society and Viva members)
Red Star Natural Soaps ,Tisserand Aromatherapy Products 
Urban Decay Weleda  Yaoh 

Let me know if you decide to try something and the kind of results you get.  In other blogs I'll be featuring products that you might like to try.  If you currently use a really good cream or regime add a comment to this post and share it with the rest of the community here.

How to Change your mood with Beautiful Colours

 I was thinking the other day while walking outside in the summer sunshine just how amazing natures colours really are. 

Not that I wasn't aware but summer brings out the best in our surroundings, and us, who doesn't like the sunshine?

It lifts our attitudes and creates a sense of fun, as the layers are peeled away.  Everything changes with the seasons and creates a burst of colour for us to enjoy.

From the blue skies to the green grass - drink it all in! I came across these wonderful poppies on my walk so delicate and yet so vibrant, no apologies for being themselves,with their bold red petals.

The psychology of colour is a whole specialism in itself, so here is a small taste of how to use colour to influence your mood and your feelings whether facing a difficult situation or just wanting to get some inspiration.

In the colour scheme:

Red - stimulates. It increases heart rate, circulation and brain activity. The colour of passion, power and desire, wear red to feel strong and energetic.

Pink - is soothing and calming. It relaxes muscles and subdues aggression.  Often a colour picked to deflect confrontation so good if you are going to be facing a difficult meeting or conversation.  Even Hillary Clinton is getting in on the act! (picture kind thanks from Politico).

Orange - strengths the immune system and is good for digestion. A warming grounding colour, boosts self esteem, clears inhibitions and promotes enthusiasm for life.

Yellow - supports your nervous system. It can help you make decisions and feel alert.  It can be uplifting and mentally stimulating.  Try wearing yellow when you want to feel more optimistic and feel more rational.

Gold - carries power for transformation and abundance.  It symbolises divine perfection, spiritual awareness and wisdom. Wear gold to strengthen your energy.

Green helps to balance the emotions and calm the nerves. It's a colour associated with heart energy, and good for promoting serenity and peace.

Blue - lowers blood pressure and slows heart rate and respiration. A cool and soothing colour which helps to connect to your intuition and creates clear communication.  So good if you know that you need to get your message across in a presentation, speaking to a group, or even in relationships.

Purple - encourages spiritual awareness and helps you to connect to your ideals. Reddish purple is more energising, indigo and lavender are more calming.

White - cleanses and purifies the spirit and emotions. It's the colour of peace. Wear white for centring and protection from stress.

Black - connects you with feminine energy. It is a good colour to use when you want to do some introspection.

Brown - is grounding and stabilising.  The colour of the earth, it is reassuring and is seen as non threatening but too much could become depressing. 

Let me know what you think, try and experiment yourself and see if it helps.