The countdown has begun. Party season is here! The festive season can be such a hectic time for some, with party invitations forthcoming, we all want to look and feel our best whilst juggling a dozen different things, I certainly do! When the chaos seems to be looming, I’d love to remind you to take a deep breath, take care of yourself with a bit of pampering and have fun! Here’s my simple tips, homemade recipes, and some of my favourite products to help get you ready and sparkling and feeling relaxed – the natural way! Look great and feel great all the way through to the New Year! 

 

Get your body ready… 

You may not fancy doing a ‘detox’ in the run up to Christmas, but if you replace a meal each day with this detoxifying Super Green Smoothie (don’t drink it on the same day as indulging in rich food as it won’t mix too well for your digestive system!) and drink it over the next couple of weeks, trust me it will help you feel amazing and ready for Christmas and New Year! It’s also great to transition from all the indulgence into a healthier January. 

 

Smoothie

 

2 green apples or 2 chunks of pineapple as a base 

Chunk of broccoli stalk 

Small handful of spinach or kale 

2-inch piece of cucumber 

¾ inch of celery (fennel works well too) 

Half an avocado 

Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and mix! Or juice everything except the avocado then add to a blender with the avocado and mix…and drink! 

 

Keep your immunity boosted!  

 

 

Kombucha is a great daily drink or a tasty non-alcoholic celebratory drink that happens to be good for you. It boosts your good gut bacteria and helps boost immunity and it tastes great. The perfect healthy alternative to champagne and wine, with the amazing options from NUNC and Equinox Kombucha you can enjoy your bubbly ‘booch’ all season and feel smug with the health benefits and no hangover! 

 

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It’s the time that we need to keep the germs at bay so If you feel a little low or at the first sign of a cold, boost your immunity with this winter warming drink. It’s amazing for hayfever and colds:  

1/2 large apple  

Big chunk ginger  

Juice together and serve in a shot glass to down in one. 

 

For a more soothing late-night version:  

 

2 apples  

Chunk lemon  

Chunk ginger  

Juice together, then add half a cup of boiling water and a spoonful of honey.  

If you feel a cough or flu symptoms coming on, bathe in a hot bath with Himalayan salt, after your bath, dry off well, wrap up warm, sip a cup of the above drink and go to bed with a hot water bottle and a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow.  

 

 

If you are choosing to drink less or go alcohol free this season, then toast the New Year in with Noughty Alcohol-Free Organic Vegan Sparkling Chardonnay or Sparkling Rosé, with almost half the sugar content of other non-alcoholic sparkling wines and super low in calories, they are the perfect answer to a headache free celebration. 

For all Gin lovers, Sea Arch is made from a blend of 11 different botanicals, individually distilled, then the alcohol is removed to leave behind pure, evocative piney-tasting juniper berry flavour, so you are left with the perfect refreshing alcohol-free gin (or at least, as close to alcohol-free as you can get). 

 

 

A Daily Apple Cider Vinegar Boost  

Studies show that Apple Cider Vinegar increases levels of lactobacillus and bifidobacteria bacteria which is beneficial for the lining of the large intestine and great for immunity amongst many other health benefits, especially for blood sugar and weight control. It balances the bodies PH level and is also good for keeping those colds at bay. Drink a teaspoon or two diluted in water daily. 

 

Get your home festive season ready… 

 

Christmas for some may mean a revolving door of relatives and friends coming to your home, and even if you’re having a ‘quiet’ one, nobody wants to get bogged down with cleaning, tidying or washing up!  De-cluttering and cleaning your home now is a great way to feel ready for what the season brings. When you are feeling ready to bring the New Year in, recycle all those things you don’t need at the local charity shop and re-use those that you can.  

Regular bleaches, detergents, cleaners with toxic chemicals can leave an unpleasant smell in your home, not to mention making it uncomfortable to breathe! Swap nasty chemical cleaners for natural options, just a few simple regular ingredients are perfect household cleaners and a much healthier option to detoxify from nasty toxic chemicals 

Glycerine mixed 50:50 with water is a great stain remover for old tannin stains on tablecloths, napkins etc.: tea, coffee, fruit juice etc. Work it in and leave it for 30 minutes before laundering as normal. 

Lemons make a great cleaning ingredient; you can clean a ceramic sink with half a lemon, and it will make it shine beautifully. Add a bit of lemon peel to the cutlery container in the dishwasher – it will help shine the cutlery. 

Vinegar will help prevent limescale around taps, in the loo, and can be mixed with lemon and water to clean surfaces and floors and to de-scale kettles. 

Remove pet hair from fabric or upholstery with a rubber glove. Put it on one hand and stroke the hair off – it comes off instantly! 

 

It’s the time when we want our homes to smell Christmassy, welcoming and cosy – ditch toxic scented candles and air fresheners, they contribute to respiratory problems and asthma and can lead to increased irritability, tiredness and more serious conditions. Create a relaxing atmosphere naturally – the gorgeous and luxurious natural aromatherapy reed diffusers, oils and home sprays from Shui Me will create a positive atmosphere in all rooms of your home, there’s Purity, Relax and Uplift! Perfect to get you and your guests in the mood! WIN all three gorgeous fragranced Diffusers here 

 

Get your skin ready… 

 

Drinking lots of alcohol over the festive season can dehydrate your skin, making it look less than vibrant and a little dull and grey. Moisturise and illuminate for great looking skin that feels comfortable. Get your face, legs and arms soft, smooth, and glowing. 

 

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We love the Plum & Avocado Cleanser from Handmade Naturals, high in amino acids, vitamins A, B1, B2, D and E, and oleic and linoleic acid, which all help renew the complexion and help maintain healthy skin, it’s perfect for dry & mature skin. Complete with Replenishing Face Cream with super nourishing ingredients which will leave skin feeling velvety soft. They have a range of 100% natural products for all skin types and you can WIN one of three fabulous Handmade Naturals Face Care gift sets here 

 

Coconut Silky Bath Water 

This is a great quick tip to get glowing silky skin. Put a spoonful of Coconut Oil straight into your bathwater making it soft and silky. You can then just dry off and rush straight out to party! Coconut Oil is also wonderfully nourishing for hands and feet. Last thing at night smother your hands and feet in it, put on cotton gloves/socks, and in the morning, you’ll really feel the difference. 

A natural and simple homemade toner will remove any make-up traces, refresh skin and work as an astringent to balance skin. For normal or combination skin, try fresh cucumber juice. Peel half a cucumber, juice and immediately apply to your skin for a wonderful natural glow. 

Christmas Aroma Toner with Myrrh – Lavender and Myrrh work well together (yes, Myrrh of wise men fame) and produce a healing antiseptic toner for oily or blemished skin: – 100 ml Lavender water – 10 drops Myrrh essential oil  –  apply with cotton wool to clean skin or add to a spritzer bottle for a refreshing spray that will keep skin fresh all night long! 

 

 

If you’re going to be doing lots of kissing under the mistletoe you can easily make this natural Shea Butter Lip Balm: 

1 tablespoon Shea Butter 

1 teaspoon Honey (or Carnauba wax which is vegan) 

Melt the Shea butter in a bowl over hot water. Stir in a tiny amount of honey or wax. Put it into a clean 15-ml pot, leave it to cool and put in the fridge to set. You can also add pure essential oils to lip balms. 1 drop of peppermint or spearmint tastes great and has antiseptic properties. 

 

Get party hair ready… 

 

To ensure your party hair stays in place all night long without toxic chemicals, try this home-made Non-toxic Christmas Party Hair-fixer: 

– 25 ml filtered water 

– 25 ml lemon juice 

– 10 g of sugar 

– 1 drop vodka to preserve 

Add to a small pump spray bottle and spritz away! If it doesn’t seem to ‘fix’, add more sugar (better than eating it!!)