Be beautiful a health and beauty centre in Carshalton, Surrey turned 7 on Saturday and what better way to celebrate than by holding an open day.

Clients old and new came to have a look round and see what treatments are on offer; not to mention the gorgeous cupcakes and champagne!

Be beautiful was started in 2006 by Bonnie and Emma offering traditional health and beauty treatments and has since grown to offer much more. Demonstrations included semi permanent make-up, Reiki (more on that in a minute), teeth whitening, and sports massage.

After a busy morning I was an all too keen to volunteer for the Reiki – having never tried it before I was intrigued to see if it was as good. After closing my eyes for a few minutes (although it felt like I’d been asleep for hours) the verdict was in… AMAZING! Why haven’t I had this before! With the two Sue’s – both Reiki masters you know you’re in safe relaxing hands. A definite must for literally everyone!

The atmosphere at the open day was brilliant with Emma and Bonnie being great hosts. Much attention was focused on their newest service: Be Beautiful Boudoir a photography and pampering experience with a difference! Described as flirty and fun it really is the the perfect gift be it a bride to be or even a woman celebrating her curves! Sofie Hughes is the talented lady behind the camera with Bonnie on hand throughout the shoot to make sure you look your utter best. It’s enough to make any girl stick to her fitness plan!

So whether you’re after a leg wax and fake bake or perhaps are looking for more of an indulgent pampering session Be Beautiful is a hidden gem only 25 minutes away from the capital and must for all beauties out there.

Happy Birthday Be Beautiful!

X

Dear Rosie

Having an inspirational time in Ghana. Davina McCall listens intently to the Project Manager, as Mothers gather at the Virtuous Women’s Bakery and creche. The women make bread and sell it in the community while their children can play in the nursery. Their new oven was funded by Comic relief meaning they can scale up production and make more money selling more bread in the community. Financial independence is key to raising women’s status and reducing poverty in society.

Love Penny

This is a digital postcard sent from TeamHonk (www.mammasaurus.co.uk;www.aresidence.co.uk; www.mummybarrow.com) during their travels with Comic Relief in Ghana celebrating #goodwork.

For the past 25 years the money raised through Red Nose Day has been changing the lives of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the UK and Africa. Let’s Keep Up the Good Work. Find out how at rednoseday.com

For other digital postcards please do join up and check out the linky on www.teamhonk.org

Sleep is still a touchy subject for Mummy and Boo; we’re no strangers to the dangers of sleep deprivation and have been open to trying pretty much anything and everything to try to restore some sleep and sanity to my poor soul.

Johnson’s baby bedtime range is designed to help sooth, relax and unwind a baby ready for a good nights sleep; and with NaturalCalms – proven to help your baby sleep better we decided to give it a try.

I’ve always been a firm believer that routines are super important especially when trying to establish a good sleep routine; so bath time is typically right before bed to allow Boo to wind down after her hectic daily schedule of play. Play and more play!

A good squeeze of Johnson’s baby bedtime bath is all you need for a bath full of bubbles which keeps Boo happy while still soft enough on sensitive skin.

Bathtime over and wrapped up in a snuggly towel is one of my favourite times so of the day with Boo. Since she was tiny I’ve played with her toes every night and blown raspberries on her tummy is quiet special time before (fingers crossed) she has her bottle and settles for the night! We’re big fans of baby massage and the baby bedtime lotion not only is clinically proven mild but smells divine – so much so that I may have caught red-handed sampling it myself!

As Boo has become ticklish, massage time has gone form a quiet affair to a giggle fest but either way Johnson’s baby bedtime range leaves her skin even more kissable smooth and has helped her to settle more easily at night – although we’re still working on her staying settled in her own cot past 1 am!

Not only do they make lovely lotions and potions, the clever people at Johnson’s have come up with an ingenious little survey to help parents determine just how babylaged they are!

Johnson’s describe their newly coined term ‘babylag’ as:

“The indescribable, can’t-keep-your-eyes-open, desperate-for-a-nap feeling only experience by parents with young children.”

Safe to say that I’ve got a bad case of Babylag but then which parent doesn’t! You can take the fun an interactive test here.

Johnson’s Baby Bedtime range is available at supermarkets nationwide.

Disclosure: We were sent Johnson’s Baby bedtime bath and lotion free of charge for review. No payment was received and all opinions are 100% honest we promise.

Believe it or not, you don’t need to choose between a successful career and a happy family life. If you often feel pulled in two different directions, you must look for ways to manage your time and simplify your lifestyle.

Stress, guilt, and tiredness don’t need to be normal aspects of your life. If you want to improve your work-life balance, read these tips on managing a career with a family.

Improve Your Organisation Skills

Poor organization can lead to incomplete tasks, missed deadlines, and forgotten appointments. If you’re struggling to tick tasks off your list or are experiencing high-stress levels, you can improve your organization skills by:

• Writing a checklist
• Prioritizing tasks
• Sticking to a strict schedule
• Organizing your workload
• Inputting appointments and events into a calendar
• Creating a tidy, organized workspace

Improving your organization skills will ensure you never forget about your child’s dental appointment or a looming deadline.

Ask for Flexibility

A lack of professional flexibility could add to your stress levels. If you feel stressed and tense each day, you can guarantee your children will pick up on it. Create a happier home and professional life by asking your boss for greater flexibility, if required.

For example, your employer might be happy for you to select your own working schedule, or they might allow you to work from home occasionally. If your boss says no, consider seeking employment with a more caring employer to improve your mental health and enjoy a better work-life balance.

Make Time for Yourself

Stress could be destroying your career and affecting your home life. A low mood, tension, and stress don’t need to be the norm. Improve your lifestyle by setting aside a little time for yourself to recharge your batteries. For example, if you’re struggling with work and home life’s physical and mental pressures, you could benefit from a professional massage. There’s an option to match every need from utopiabeautique.com, such as a deep tissue or hydrothermal massage.

Set Boundaries

Boundaries can prevent blurring the lines between work and home. If you’re working remotely, you must set a strict working schedule and, if possible, instruct your loved ones not to disturb you during this time.

Once the working day is over, log out of your email, turn off your work phone, and embrace quality time with your family. Also, set a strict rule that you will never take phone calls during dinner with your loved ones or on holiday, which will help you to de-stress when away from the workplace.

Conclusion

Managing a career with a family isn’t easy. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to finding a work-life balance, the above tactics could help you organize your time. Remember, while ambition is a fantastic trait, it shouldn’t come at the cost of your relationships and happiness. So, set boundaries and take greater control of your schedule. Don’t be afraid to take a little time for yourself to relax and de-stress, too, as a good mood can often lead to a happier home life and a flourishing career.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

The longer you live in your home, the smaller the space seems to become. As you accumulate more belongings, the temptation to move to a larger property grows stronger. 

 

Well, you might want to think twice, because whether your house is a mansion or an apartment, you’d be amazed at how much larger you can make the space once you put your mind to it.

 

Here’s how to make your home feel twice as large without breaking the bank:

 

Be clever with how you use the space

One of the best ways you can make your home look twice as large is to get creative with the rooms you use the most. Take your kitchen, for instance. You can almost certainly open up the room and declutter a huge amount. Often, made to measure kitchens are used to enhance storage space and give the room a much-needed lift. 

 

This change alone has the potential to completely open up your home, because it takes a lot of the strain off the other rooms. If you use your living room to house your dinner table, why not place a breakfast bar in the kitchen instead? Thinking outside the box will quickly transform the amount of free space available in your home.

 

Give rooms a multi-purpose feel

Continuing with this theme of clever storage solutions, it is a good idea to reassess how each room can best serve your practical needs. 

 

For example, you could increase the use of space in your spare room by replacing your sofa with a fold-out bed, killing two birds with one stone. Similarly, you could move your clothes from the wardrobe to a set of draws placed under your bed. Simple and inexpensive changes like this can make all the difference.

 

Give your home a splash of colour

Colours are a powerful way of creating the impression of added space. Stick to light and natural colours like white, sky blue and light green, and you’ll be shocked at how spacious your home suddenly feels.

 

Turn two rooms into one

Another way to create the impression of extra space is to knock through two rooms to create one multi-purpose space. The most obvious candidate would be the kitchen and living room. By combining these two areas you can entertain guests far more easily, get more ambitious with your furniture and storage space, as well as creating a lighter and less claustrophobic feel to the communal areas.

 

Mirror, mirror on the wall is your new best friend

Talking of light, you might want to invest in some mirrors. Have you ever walked into a restaurant and been tricked into thinking it was half the size that it appeared at first glance? Chances are they were using a wall mirror. This both adds depth to a room and captures the light, brightening up the space. Lighting is crucial when it comes to making a space appear larger than it actually is. Uplighters are another way of creating this effect.

 

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.