The Mountains Are Calling

Sometimes I find I just can't switch off.  My mind won't stop thinking, worrying, planning; I can't stop myself from looking at the mess that a three year old boy creates, or the washing up that's aways building, or the never ending list of things to do that I never seem to get done.  

When I'm out in the countryside, surrounded by mountains it's like all those worries just get blown away.  They give me a sense of scale and perspective.  There's no phones, TV or computer games to distract us, just gentle chit chat and soothing silence.

I love to take pictures of these moments so that when life gets a little hectic I can look back over them and find a little calm and perspective.

One of my favourite quotes about nature, by John Muir:

"The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn".

I took these pictures a few days ago in The Lake District as we drove over Kirkstone Pass and down to Ullswater.  The rain was pouring and the wind so strong (you can even see rain on the camera lense!), but the views were beautiful and so refreshing.

Have a wonderful week ahead x

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WIN A Signature Scarf From The Yigal Azrouël Collection

This has been a pretty exciting week for me so far.  When I was asked to take part in a styling challenge for the new Yigal Azrouël campaign I was so blown away!  As part of the launch they wanted different Instagramers to style a scarf in their own way, to showcase how versatile the collection can be for the summer season.  As soon as mine arrived on Monday I started snapping away, and yesterday we all popped up to the park to take some pictures.

I'm a lot more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it these days, but this scarf is just so beautiful, it deserves to be shown off!  

I tend to keep my style very simple, then to dress the outfit up with a scarf and some choice details, so for my flat lay I styled it with a delicate white dress and nude accessories (and flowers, of course!), then for our trip out I wore it with a black and white stripped dress, my floral sunglasses and black converse.  The colours are just so beautiful, it really made me long for summer!  

Enter to WIN a signature scarf from the Yigal Azrouël collection. 

Enter via e-mail subscription link below by 11.59pm on May 27, 2015 for a chance to win your own cashmere-modal scarf by New York fashion designer Yigal Azrouël.

Winner will be selected at random and contacted via e-mail by June 1st.

{ Enter Competition Here }

Good luck!

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Lavender & Oat Facemask with Young Living Essential Oils

Over the last couple of years I've changed quite a lot about my lifestyle.  My overall health has become a lot more important to me, and the results I've experienced with a more natural diet have led me to rethink my beauty routine too.

I've always had sensitive skin prone to breakouts, something that really knocked my confidence for years, but I just thought it was something I'd have to live with.  I would compensate by trying to cover up with heavy makeup and to treat breakouts with products which I now know to be harsh and totally unsuitable for my skin.

As I began exploring more natural and homemade alternatives I came across essential oils all the time.  These plant extracts, created through steam distillation and cold pressing, could apparently be used to create everything from soothing and effective beauty treatments, to air fresheners and household cleaners.

There's actually so much information out there that they can be a little intimidating.  I wanted to try some out but didn't really know where to start!  So I was pretty excited when Nicole of blog Today Is My Favourite suggested a collaboration.

Nicole and her family have been on a wellness journey over the last couple of years with Young Living Essential Oils, the worlds leading essential oils manufacturer, becoming such an important part in their lives that she now works to spread the idea of natural, chemical free homes to others.

'We're so excited to incorporate them into our health and wellness as a family as a safe alternative to normal chemical products we use in our home.  As a mama to little Emmett and Gideon, I love having a natural way to maintain health and wellness in our home.'

'Young Living Essential Oils are 100% pure and derived straight from the plant.  They contain the plants own natural immunity, hormones and scents.  When oils are pure, they have the ability to work with your body, not against it, to bring about change in your health.'

Nicole was kind enough to send me some samples of her favourite Young Living Essential Oils; Lavender and Thieves.

I'm going to do a couple of posts about the oils and my experiences with them, with this this post focusing on my personal favourite of the two; Lavender.  I was recommended this oil after the birth of my son for its healing abilities, which worked wonders, but I had no idea there were so many other uses too!

It's amazing before bed for rest and relaxation, by rubbing a drop on your neck or temples you can encourage a good nights rest; mix it in with some coconut or olive oil to create a soothing cream for eczema and dry skin.  It can be diluted into a spray with some epsom salts to create a soothing mist and homemade air freshener, free from any chemicals.

When used as part of a beauty routine, Lavender oil can prevent outbreaks by regulating the bacteria that causes spots, and even reduce the signs of existing scars.

After I mentioned that I was interested in natural beauty remedies Nicole recommended her favourite go-to facial recipe, which I've been using with a lavender water spray and still can't believe how much better my skin has been because of it.

The great thing about this recipe is that you can keep the oats and lavender mix in an airtight container, then all you have to do is portion some out, mix in the water and it's ready to go.  It's so quick, and so simple.

In this recipe there are oats to exfoliate, lavender oil to encourage a balanced complexion, and water to create the paste.  I also like to add some olive oil into my face masks as it's fantastic for hydrating your skin, and works great on any annoying lines or wrinkles.  This mask left my skin feeling soft and nourished, not to mention it has that beautiful lavender scent!

Oat & Lavender Facial

1/2 cup of Oats
7-10 drops of Young Living lavender oil
Splash of water
Splash of olive oil (optional)

Grind the oats in a food processor or pestle and mortar until it becomes a fine powder, then add the lavender oil.  Store in an airtight jar, then when you're ready to do the facial, just pour some out and add a splash of water and olive oil, stir in so that it becomes a paste.  Apply to your skin and leave on for around 5-10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water and cotton wool.

If you're interested in reading any more about essential oils then I'd definitely recommend taking a look at Nicole's blog, nicoleneesby.com, where she has lots more information about Young Living and some great recipes too.  There are essential oil classes available online as well as an online community to share recipes and answer any queries.

You can also find her on social media:

Instagram - dwelling simple essentials
Instagram - personal 
Pinterest
Facebook 
Twitter 

Thanks again to Nicole for sending me these oils and for all her help, I can't wait to share more about Thieves soon.

Have a wonderful week ahead! x

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Strolling through York

Last weekend I went to Yorkshire for my cousins hen party.  I managed to navigate the trains there alone, so, feeling pretty proud of myself, I then decided to wander through the streets of York before meeting up with everyone, and heading to our destination.

York has such a long and rich history, it's an amazing city for sightseeing.  Old cobbled streets, black and white houses, Viking relics and midnight ghost walks are all on offer, not to mention York Minster and a whole collection of gorgeous shops and public houses.

I only saw a fraction of what York has to offer on my strolls, but I thought it was worth sharing nonetheless.  I pretty sure I'll be back soon with the family to do some proper sightseeing.

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Say it with Flowers

This week my brother and his lovely fiancé became parents, and I became an auntie to their beautiful baby girl.  I remembered back nearly four years ago to when I had my son, and how our home was full of beautiful flowers that were gifted to us.  

Those days are a blur but what always stands out in my mind, apart from Noah of course, is just how vibrant and happy our home was.  So as soon as we heard the good news I went straight to the florist to order them a bouquet of their own.  

Of course, I couldn't let them go without first taking a few pictures.  Quite honestly it's a miracle I didn't keep them for myself.  I guess that just shows how happy I was to welcome baby Eva into the family...

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