Let's be honest - there hasn't been much at-home entertaining going on in the last year and a half thanks to the pandemic. But now with restrictions being eased (for now at least!) most of us are starting to resume life as normal. And that includes having your mates over. We all like to make an effort when we have guests over and want everyone to have a good time. There are those who throw fab gatherings effortlessly and still manage to look as cool and chilled as a cumber cocktail (a Benemint Cucumberpatch perhaps!) And then there are some who look as though they need to lie down for a very long time - and not because they've had one too many! When you're having guests over for a very informal evening, the easiest way to do it is with cocktails, canapes and antipasto platters. A lot of these can be great cupboard stand-bys so even if it's all very last minute.com, you can still pull off a great evening without rushing around and looking frazzled. Even with cocktails you don't need to be Tom Cruise or have a brewery load of alcohol to create something quite impressive. With thanks to FrankGeorg at Pixabay So if you're having a last-minute gathering - or you've got a crowd who has just turned up unannounced - there are ways of hosting a great evening without feeling as though you are in danger of committing murder beforehand. Here are some great tips to hosting the perfect at-home gathering. BECOME THE COCKTAIL QUEEN (OR KING!) If you are very last-minute or you simply dread having unexpected guests, it's a good idea to make sure you have some stand-by items ready in the fridge or cupboard. There isn't really much need to stock up on ultra expensive ingredients that you're probably never going to use again. We all remember the fairy tale about the magic stone soup and it's true - with limited ingredients and a lot of imagination you can come up with something quite impressive: Have at least one bottle of wine, rum or vodka tucked away for 'emergencies,' ready to act as the base for a good cocktail. Always make sure you're never out of ice. You can cheat by using a cocktail mixer pack where all you have to do is add alcohol and serve. There aren't many fruits that can't be used in a cocktail, either sliced, pureed or muddled and strained so let your fruit bowl be your best friend! Herbs and spices such as basil, mint, lemongrass and ginger and even chilli can really give your cocktails a much needed kick. Cola, lemonade, sparkling water and various types of juices make great mixers. Never underestimate the importance of the humble lemon (or lime.) The zest and juice can be added to the alcohol; the fruit can be sliced, and the peel can be used for decoration. When all else fails, cooled sugar syrup + lemon juice + alcohol of your choice+ ice + soda + lemon slice = inexpensive yet impressive cocktail! Don't forget to frost the rims of the glasses with sugar. If you do have time to prepare, freeze either fruit juice, coffee, cola, tea lemonade etc. to avoid watery cocktails. Also remember that it's not all about the alcohol as you may have guests who don't drink. Simply omit the alcohol in their drinks, substitute it with a flavoured syrup, if necessary, and top up with ginger ale, lemonade, soda etc. THE EASIEST CHARCUTERIE BOARD EVER Canapés and antipasti platters are traditionally nibbles served to guests as they arrive and as they are a precursor to a main meal, they tend to be light. However, it's not uncommon now for people to forgo a sit-down meal in order to serve an array of canapés, especially if they are having a lot of guests or want to keep things informal. With thanks to RicardoADom at Pixabay So unless you’re planning a party with lots of guests, keep the antipasto fairly simple so you don’t override the the main meal. You could perhaps serve two or three dishes from the list below along with some fruit, nuts and bread. If you're planning on serving a main meal, then the antipasto should complement the meal you’re planning. Think about the appearance and fragrance of the food; blending flavors, aromas and colours will create interesting antipasto plates. We'd all love to do a Delia when it comes to entertaining but let's face it - we don't all have time to stuff quail eggs or make pastry from scratch. Neither do we have the patience or finances to track down obscure, expensive ingredients which can probably only be ordered online. So if you're pushed for time - or money - cheat! Make the most of your local, supermarket, grocer or deli. And if you're fortunate enough to live near a farmer's market, so much the better! Here's a list of simple nibbles you could include as part of your platter: With thanks to Ylloh at Pixabay Jarred marinated artichoke hearts Water crackers Various types of cheese Sliced or cherry tomatoes marinated in dressing Olives Cold meat slices Different types of bread Slices or chunks of fresh fruit Jarred roasted peppers Garlic hummus and pita bread Sardines and sweet onions Capers Sweet pickles, chutneys and relishes Cold shrimp Roasted nuts Homemade garlic bread Grilled deli vegetables Marinated fresh mozzarella Anchovies You could also decide what you'd like to be the key component or theme in your antipasti platter ie. - meat, vegetables, fish etc. and then base other nibbles around them: With thanks to Alexei_Other at Pixabay Meat: a selection of natural deli meats - pepperoni, salami and prosciutto etc. — then add mixed olives, brie, deviled eggs, roasted vegetables and crackers. Vegan: vegetable crudités, marinated olives or olive tapenade, pitta bread, roasted peppers, vegetarian stuffed dolmas and roasted garlic hummus. Seafood: fish roe, sardines, anchovies, seared fresh tuna and smoked salmon, crackers served with cream cheese, sliced marinated onions and capers. Fresh Fruit and Nuts: Serve chunks of melon, figs and pomegranate alongside deli meats, and then add toasted walnuts and roasted, salted pistachios. Roasted Vegetables with Cheese: roasted veggies e.g. - baby aubergines, beets, bell peppers,courgettes, carrots, tomatoes, asparagus, onions and garlic. (Look for roasted vegetables in the prepared foods section of the store, or simply toss raw veggies with a bit of olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in a 450°F oven until tender.) Served with tangy cheeses like feta, Gruyère or aged Manchego. Cheese and More Cheese: Look for out-of-the-ordinary cheeses like Rustica cheese with red peppers or black peppercorns, rosemary coated Manchego, Caciotta cheese with green olives, Gouda with mustard seeds or cumin, drunken goat cheese made with red wine and Sotocenere cheese with truffles and a hint of cinnamon. Then combine them with a few traditional ones like provolone or fresh mozzarella. Serve with crusty bread, olives, deli meats, fruit, crackers, pickles and chutneys. Sweets: Baked brie; mascarpone; White stilton; almonds; nut brittle; dried apricots, biscotti, brioche chunks; fresh cherries; berries; dark chocolate; honey, jam Here's an example of a super simple antipasti platter and a quick and easy cocktail. Hardly any fuss at all with easily found ingredients. ANTIPASTI PLATTER INGREDIENTS: 125g crostini 240g artichoke hearts 225g queen green olives 70g Napoli salami 70g Milano prosciutto 70g sliced chorizo 80g Parma ham METHOD: Arrange the selection of canapés on a breadboard or platter. APPLE AND CINNAMON SPARKLE INGREDIENTS: 200ml vodka 300ml sparkling apple drink 1 green apple, sliced 6 cinnamon sticks METHOD: Mix vodka and sparkling apple drink.Pour into martini glasses.Garnish with a slice of apple and a cinnamon stick. What could be simpler! Enjoy!

For us creative types, nothing makes us more content than being up to our eyes in a project - or ten! Some people might enjoy sweating it out in the gym; checking out the new releases at the local multiplex, or hiking through woodland areas but for us keen crafters, the craft room is our happy place. If we're not knee-deep in fabrics, with gluey fingers, glitter in our hair, and pieces of decoupage paper scattered about the place, then something is very wrong! There's a keen army of crafters out there that's growing bigger by the day. Which is quite surprising considering that once upon a time arts and crafts was considered old-fashioned, uncool and fuddy-duddy; something your nan would do. Now it's probably something your man would do! Many TV shows that feature arts and crafts have demonstrated that it's 'cool' to get creative. But cool or not, it's most definitely a fantastic way to unwind and destress which is just what's needed for today's hectic way of life. Not to mention the recent stress of the pandemic which has played havoc with many people's emotional well-being. For those of you whose idea of a wild time is to find as many uses as possible for odd pieces of ribbon, the following will be easy for you to relate to. 1. JUNK? NO WAY! We collect the ribbons from chocolate boxes, tissue paper from gifts, buttons and beads that have fallen off clothes... many may regard these as waste that needs to be binned, but to craft addicts, these are bits and bobs that are bound to come in handy either now or in the future, or inspiration for a new craft project. The ribbon, the box, even the foil wrappers will not be going to waste! To illustrate our point, check out florist Mandy's story: I remember taking an order from a bride who wanted flower girl baskets but had left it a little too late. I had just one weekend to come up with two baskets in a rather unusual choice of colour. So I dipped into my box of trusty oddments, - the same box that my sister always used to laugh at - and came up with tulle remnants, pieces of ribbon and a small bunch of silk flowers all in the desired colour, which I was able to divide between the two baskets and mix with other cream-coloured silks. The baskets looked great. I had one happy customer and my sister never laughed at my 'box of junk' again! 2. WORKING ON YOUR CRAFT You're too well-mannered to tell your friends what to buy you as a gift (unless they badger you of course!) but they know you so well that even though designer brands are in, they know that you would actually prefer to make the chocolates... Or candles... Or scarf... Or jewellery yourself. So what's the gift of choice for the girl (or guy) who likes putting their hands to creative good use? Sessions at a craft workshop of course! Florist's workshop, anyone? There are workshops and classes available for a variety of different crafts which last from one day for something quick and simple, to several sessions which run for a period of several weeks or even months if you really want to get stuck in. It's a really unique and thoughtful gift - just perfect for your craft-mad friend. 3. HERE'S ONE I MADE EARLIER... Likewise when you need to get a gift for your friend, you're more likely to reach for your craft box rather than your device to scour the online shopping sites. You know that there's nothing more unique than a handpainted teapot, screen printed T-shirt, beaded scarf, handmade soaps or studded leather wristband you've created yourself. Handmade is the only way to go when it comes to gifts! As Laura says: When an old friend of ours was getting married, she didn't include a gift list so we had no idea what to get her. My husband, who's an artist, then decided to purchase a plain glass vase. He then went ahead and etched a beautiful jasmine design, complete with the bride and groom's names and the date of their wedding. It was beyond stunning - if I may say so - and my friend told me later that it was one of the most gorgeous gifts they'd received. It's deeply treasured and it reminds them of us every time they look at it - as well as their happy day of course! 4. FIX UP, LOOK SHARP! Your favourite T-shirt has a rip in it? No problem -you simply stitch it up, add some embellishments and it's as good as new. Wooden chair literally on it's last legs? Once it's been repaired, gets revamped with a brand new coat of paint in a bold colour, it looks better than ever before. Nothing ever gets thrown out because you enjoy transforming it into a work of art. 5. YOU KNOW WHERE IT'S AT! There isn't a craft store you haven't heard of, a craft book or magazine you haven't read, or a craft site you don't know about. And even when you go on holiday, forget the tourist attractions, it's the craft shops you're looking for! Always good to know where you can get your crafty bits from! Claire tells us: When I first got into crafting, I used to sit at the computer for hours, finding craft sites and purchasing all kinds of wonderful items from them. A 'quick browse' around local craft stores would see me leaving with a big bag of goodies. On a visit to Edinburgh for a week long break, my husband and I came across a very quaint, little craft shop and of course, I couldn't resist going in. We left empty-handed. NOT! 6. YOU HAVE THE BASIC KNOW-HOW You're able to identify a variety of crafting tools and explain what they're used for. You know how to convert measurements with ease. You know your antique rose from your blush pink, and you can talk floristry techniques for hours. With thanks to efulop 7. WHEN OTHERS SEE AN EMPTY JAM JAR READY FOR RECYCLING... ...you see a container for a new batch of marmalade, jams, or chutneys you plan to give as gifts; a drinking glass for your homemade brew; a new candle holder in need to decoration; a storage jar for your craft bits and bobs; vessel for your new snow globe... ... That is how you think like a crafter! 8. MAGAZINES ARE THE NEW CARPET! You can barely see the flooring in your house because it's completely covered with craft books that you can't stop purchasing or the latest craft magazines which you love flicking through for inspiration for new craft projects and to find out what's new in the world of crafts. 9. WHY STOP AT ONE CRAFT??? A person may be known for one particular craft but that doesn't mean that they won't dabble - or even excel - at others. It's all about the art at the end of the day and us crafters have creativity in our blood. It's all about using our imaginations; developing ideas and creating something that can be enjoyed by others. So don't be surprised if your florist friend is also into balloon art, or your grandad who makes handpainted mirrors is also a dab hand at the potters' wheel. There's no end to some people's artistic talents. 10. YOU'RE A HAPPY LITTLE CRAFTER! Peter explains: Someone once told me that being a florist suited me to the ground because I was such a happy person. Well I don't know about that - I have my moments just like everyone else - but it's true that crafts, floristry in particular, really do bring out the best in me and I'm happiest when I'm getting stuck into one of my projects. This probably explains why the three years I spent at flower school were among some of the best years of my life. Not only did I learn so much but I was among like-minded people who loved getting creative and using their imagination - and boy did we have a laugh! There was the odd row but mostly we laughed! A lot of other crafters feel the same. There's nothing quite like designing and creating something beautiful yourself. And if it's admired by others, so much the better. And if you can actually make a living out of selling your crafts, then you've really hit the jackpot. Photos from Pixabay Word cloud by Angel Noire

We all know the mantra, 'cleanse, tone, moisturise,' but how many of us have been encouraged to 'double-cleanse, tone, moisturise'? For some of us, cleansing, toning, and mosturizing can feel like a bit too much. And that's before we get on to serums and sunscreen! So the thought of spending extra time with double-cleansing fills a lot of people with dread. But when it comes to taking care of you skin, maintaining a good regime is a necessity in order to keep our skin looking healthy and good as we get older. And it doesn't have to be taxing and mundane. Peppermint Teal's founder Angel Noire tried out the double-cleanse method almost ten years ago when her skin had looked as though it had seen better days (it had!) Though once she heard about this new step for a more effective skincare regime, she gave it a go - and never looked back. SO WHAT IS DOUBLE CLEANSING? Double-cleansing is hardly some new skincare phenomenon as it's been around for ages. It's just that not everyone puts it into practice! Double-cleansing is exactly what it says on the tin - cleansing your face twice: First with an oil-based cleanser, and then with a water-based cleanser. SHOULD EVERYONE DOUBLE-CLEANSE? It depends. It's true that double-cleansing is NOT essential for everyone. For most, cleansing your face thoroughly is more than sufficient. But if the following applies to you, then to double cleanse your skin before reaching the other steps of your skincare routine might benefit you: If you have oily skin as it removes excess oil and sebum For those who are exposed to a lot more pollutants, dirt and grime If you wear a lot of make-up every day For those of you who wear sunscreen (which should be all of you!) If the above doesn't apply to you, you might still benefit from incorporating that extra double-cleansing step into your routine as it could help the water/cream based cleanser work more efficiently plus allow the skin to better absorb the other skincare products. ISN'T DOUBLE-CLEANSING HARSH FOR THE SKIN? Not if it's done properly and you apply two things: Products that are suitable for your skintype Common sense! You only really need to double-cleanse your face in the evening to remove the day's grime and make-up. Avoid products that are harsh, overly drying and contain undesirables such as alcohol and artificial fragrances. Stick to products that are organic and contain as many natural ingredients as possible. And if you encounter any issues with any of the products you're using, then obviously discontinue using it and switch to a more suitable product. BUT... It is true that double-cleansing may not for everyone. So if you feel as though it's drying out your skin and causing irritation, then skip the double cleanse. Furthermore, if you'd rather not use an oil-based cleanser (oil-based cleansers can cause break-outs for acne-prone skin) then you can substitute it for micellar water to break down make-up. SUITABLE WATER-BASED CLEANSERS FOR DIFFERENT SKIN TYPES Normal skin Use a gentle, unscented water-based cleanser, cream or foaming depending on what you like best. Dry, sensitive skin Select a gentle, unscented water-based cleanser, preferable a cream cleanser rather than a foaming one as it's less drying. Combination skin If your skin is part oily, part dry — typically dry cheeks with a greasy t-zone - go for either product that's specially formulated for combination skin, or go for a cream-based cleanser for the dry areas and use a water-based foaming cleanser everywhere else. Oily or acne-prone skin Choose water-based foaming cleansers with active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, or salicylic or glycolic acid. THE DOUBLE-CLEANSE ROUTINE: So, how do you double cleanse? Here’s a step-by-step guide. Apply an oil-based cleanser to your face and neck, and gently massage the cleanser into your skin, breaking down makeup and sunscreen residue as well as sebum and grime. With a flannel or soft sponge, rinse off using lukewarm water. Remember that water which is too hot can dry out your skin. Pat your skin dry with a towel but ensure that it's still a little damp. Then apply your water-based cleanser, massaging gently into the skin. Rinse off the cleanser as before. Gently dry skin with a soft towel. Now continue with the next steps of your cleansing routine e.g. - toning, serum, moisturizer etc. And it's as easy as that! Check out the next part of this post to see how Angel Noire got on with her double-cleansing skincare routine. Photos: Pixabay Blog graphics: Angel Noire

There are many reasons why people decide to live abroad: work, study, love, a fresh start or just a deep desire to try something new and broaden their horizons. And while there are a great number of other benefits to living abroad, there's unfortunately also a less than fabulous side. For those of us who have lived or are living the ex-pat life, you know that it's a bit of a roller-coaster ride. On the one hand you're embarking on a new adventure; experiencing the excitement of a different way of life; a new beginning; meeting new people... But then on the other hand, becoming an ex-pat is so much more than just sailing off into the sunset with your polka-dot knotted hanky on a stick! Big moves often come with big lifestyle changes which can sometimes feel a bit unsettling and overwhelming as you try to integrate yourself into a new country. In this two part post, we take a look at the highs and lows of living in another country; hear the experiences of those who, for better or for worse have made the move and talk about ex-pat life as it really is, and look at ways to ride those highs while trying to steer clear of the lows as much as possible. In this first part, we take a look at the benefits, advantages and all the good things that life in another country has to offer. 1. LIVING THE DREAM! When we were little and we started learning about different countries at school; met someone interesting from abroad, or started watching the latest foreign import soap opera, we all at one time or another harboured aspirations to go and live in another country when we grew up. And for some of us, the dream doesn't necessarily die when we reach adulthood; it's just that real-life gets in the way. So the dream remains just that - a dream. With thanks to Marcos-Photographer @Pixabay That's why it really is an achievement when you take that step and actually go and set up home in another country. It's quite an accomplishment to be able to get your visas/permits; hop on a plane with some of your most treasured possessions; get a new job; a new place to live; make new friends, and basically start navigating a new way of life. It's a chance to get out of the rut of everyday life in the same town with the same faces. Remember you are doing what most people wish to do but never actually get round to doing, so don't forget how fortunate you are to have this opportunity and really go for it. MAKE THE MOST OF IT! Have you ever seen the look of pure wonder on a toddler's face after seeing a decorated Christmas tree for the first time? Moving to a new country means you're going to be experiencing plenty of new wonderful and amazing things whether it's the local cuisine, fashion trends, historical sites, cultural events etc. So get out there and make sure you have as many of these 'wow' moments as possible. Aim for as many cultural experiences as you can whether it's learning a new language, playing the country's national sport, or exploring your new country's arts scene. Share what you've learned/experienced with your family and friends back home. It'll give them a new perspective on life in general as well as dispel any long-held myths they may have had about your adopted country. You never know - it may inspire them to visit... or even think about going to live in another country. Most people love learning about other people's cultures so the locals might be quite intrigued by you and want to know more about where you come from. Introduce them to popular TV shows from home or invite your new friends over and cook them a traditional meal. Share your experiences with the world! Have you noticed how many expat blogs and vlogs there are out there? As an expat, you are blessed with the opportunity of experiencing life in a country different to the one you grew up in. The experiences that you have and the things that you have learned could prove invaluable to others including future expats or people who just want to have a general idea of life abroad. So find a way of documenting these experiences which you can then share with others. 2. STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE Even the most outgoing, adventurous of people can often feel overwhelmed by relocating to another country where you have to start from scratch. Moving abroad isn't just a question of stepping out of your comfort zone — it’s often feels more like taking a big, massive leap. Through a hoop. That's flaming. Backwards! If you flunked GCSE French, the thought of having to learn another language may fill you with dread. If you never learned to drive/are a nervous driver/find owning a vehicle to be a major expense and hassle, you'll be horrified at living in a place which doesn't have a good public transport system. You'll also have to explore your new surroundings; get to grips with the work culture; register with a doctor; set up your finances... and that's all before you learn where the best places to hang out and meet people are! With thanks to vampire86d @ Pixabay For those of us who aren't keen on change or don't have the biggest sense of adventure, moving abroad can be a seriously overwhelming experience. But it's amazing what you can do when you need to. A lot of people who have made the leap abroad have felt that this has boosted their confidence; enabled them to grow; has got them out of their shell, and uncovered their true potential. MAKE THE MOST OF IT! While some people like to jump in head first and go with the flow, others prefer to be well prepared. If you're the latter, be sure to do your research first so that there are no nasty surprises when you get there. As well as the necessary documents and immunizations you'll need prior to leaving - which are essential knowledge - find out whatever else you'll need to know, from food, healthcare, climate, laws, and customs to what to expect on a daily basis. Research enables you to discover where you need to compromise/work around, and what's an absolute deal breaker before you even contemplate a new life abroad. Having something to focus on and work towards will prevent those feelings of being stuck. So think of attainable goals you would like to achieve while you're out there - learning a new skill; retraining; volunteering etc. - as this will make your time in your new country more productive and give you that sense of achievement. Let's not lie - stepping out of your comfort zone isn't easy. But you don't have to do anything big and bold upon arriving. Take those all-important baby steps: find a new local coffee shop; try a different route to work; join an activity group; say hi to the regulars at your local pub... each new thing you do, no matter how small will get you used to your new environment. Every little step will help you get accustomed to your new home. And if it's something that gets you out of the house and meeting new people, that's even better. If you're unable to continue with the activities you did at home, break out of your comfort zone and try something new. Ask around or look online to see what's available. If you really feel up to pushing past your limits, why not begin your own activity group, either through the local library, meetup group, or even your place of worship. There's lots of options available and the more you do, the more you'll feel comfortable in your new surroundings. It's useful to get to know expats from other countries, and meet people who are in/have been in the same situation as you. You might find that they are a huge source of advice and support. It'd be handy to look up expat groups on social networking sites to connect with other people from around the world who might just be living on your doorstep. 3. MAKING NEW FRIENDS... AND POSSIBLY FINDING LOVE! The internet and modern day technology have made the world seem a lot smaller and now meeting people from all over the world has become a whole lot easier. And all from the comfort of your living room! But of course when you go to live in another country, you come into contact on a regular basis with people you might otherwise never have met - even in your living room while on a social media platform! Whether it's your new work colleagues who you get to know over after-work drinks; hanging out with your new neighbours, or even making friends with the guy who runs the coffee shop - it's amazing the people you'll cross paths with and you might even become lifelong friends. Or find lasting love! With thanks to Free-Photos @ Pixabay MAKE THE MOST OF IT: Say yes to as many invites as possible. Don't be shy! It's true that a lot of people like to keep their work life separate from their home life but if your new work lot invite you out to lunch or after work drinks, it'd be a good idea to go. It's a good way of easing yourself into a new social scene. While we know that not all neighbours are like the ones you find on Ramsay Street, if you live in the kind of neighbourhood where they all get together, have cook-outs, and generally have something of a community vibe, give it a go and try to join in. There's absolutely nothing wrong with hanging out with other expats but make sure your circle includes a lot of the locals too. Join a class or activity group to so you can meet more likeminded people. Join a dating site if it's love you're looking for. Or see what events there are for singles. 4. REINVENTING YOURSELF Moving to another country brings out a side to you you never knew existed - as well as the chance to restart your life. A lot of people who have made a new life in a new country have said that they're not the same person they were when they arrived. Moving abroad brings about a lot of changes and gives you the chance to reinvent yourself. You learn to adapt to your surroundings; pick up new skills and ways of doing things; you come out of your shell more, and really appreciate the person that you've become. With thanks to geralt @ Pixabay MAKE THE MOST OF IT! Many people living abroad often find themselves with more time on their hands than they had at home, so use this time to do something that you've always wanted to do but didn't have the chance to when you were at home. It might be taking a class, trying a new activity, or trying to realize a long-held ambition... now is your time to put all that into action. Now is a good time to sort out bad habits. Perhaps you've moved somewhere where healthy eating and an active lifestyle is the norm, or where smoking and drinking is a bit of a no-no. This is your chance to reduce your consumption of junk food, cigarettes and alcohol (if you can't cut them out altogether) and adopt some good habits in order to make important changes to your lifestyle. If for whatever reason you need a career change, look into the possibility of retraining. Check out colleges which do the accredited courses you need to get you into your new chosen field. 5. IMMERSING YOURSELF IN A NEW CULTURE We could always learn a language at an evening class; grab a recipe from a magazine, and watch cultural festivities on TV... But what better way to understand a new culture than full cultural immersion; by going to the country and experiencing everything that it has to offer first hand? When in another country and totally immersed in the culture, you learn things that you could never get from a book or documentary. You begin to understand the nuances, different aspects, and subcultures within a particular culture. You learn what is important to certain communities and what they hold dear. Whether we like to admit it or not, most of us have presumptions and preconceptions about different countries and communities. Once you have a better understanding of other cultures and you’ve seen your preconceptions proved wrong, you’ll be careful not to be jump to assumptions so quickly in the future. With thanks to murtaza @Pixabay Seeing how people live in another country can also give you a new perspective on life, and will enable you to incorporate these discoveries into your own life. You'll chill out more if you find yourself living in a place where the pace of life is slower and less hectic. Where there is an emphasis on a more outdoorsy lifestyle, you may become more active and nature-loving. And the issues that exist in your adopted homeland may have you developing a deeper appreciation for your own place of birth and the things you took for granted. And let's not forget being exposed to popular culture and entertainment that you might otherwise have missed out on. MAKE THE MOST OF IT: Go with an open mind and understand that things may be very different to what you're used to at home. Things that are weird/acceptable at home may be seen in a different light in your new country. Be aware of the local culture and social conventions and remember when in Rome... You have the perfect opportunity to learn and master a new language. This is a great skill and will really enable you to understand and integrate into the local culture. Try new activities and sample new cuisines. See what your new home has to offer. While it's always good to make friends with any fellow expats, remember that when it comes to understanding the ways of your adopted country, there's no better teacher than the locals, so don't shy away from including them in your social circle. Joining in with festivities is another good way to learn about the culture. So try to attend any of the events that the locals will be going to. These are often centered around a holiday or celebration with religious/cultural significance and is a good learning - not to mention fun - experience. Plus it's also a great way to meet new people. What do you love about living the expat life? Photos: Pixabay Blog graphics and word cloud: Angel Noire

Many of us are finding the idea of buying presents more than a little overwhelming. But when you have a good idea of what the recipient is into, that's half the battle over with and you're on the right path towards finding something you know they'll enjoy. Giving well-thought out gifts is one of the loveliest things about special occasions - seeing the joy on someone’s face as they tear off the gift wrap and see something they've been hoping for is always a delight. It won't come as any surprise to you any of you that at Peppermint Teal, we love to read. Losing yourself in a good book is a wonderful to destress leaving you feeling so much more relaxed and revived. And when you throw tea and cake into the mix - it's one of our favourite methods of self-care - definitely great for the soul! And when you feel like being sociable, there's nothing like being part of a reading group and getting stuck into a riveting discussion about that month's read. Just think - you fave book could lead you to making new friends! So to us, books are so much more than just words on a page. So that's why we created this post specifically with book lovers in mind. But what do you buy someone who likes to read? Well a book of course! True, anyone who enjoys reading would be grateful to receive a new book to get stuck into as a gift. But what if you feel like getting the bookworm in your life something slightly different..? Even though we know books are very much their thing, book-buying for the avid reader can sometimes be a challenge. How do we know they'll love the book we've bought them? What if they already have it on their bookshelf or have downloaded it onto their Kindle? Perhaps they've already read it before - and worse still hated it! Or maybe just maybe, you don't want to be totally predictable and buy them yet another book especially if you think everyone else will be getting them something to read. The smart choice might be to get them a gift that isn't a book but is still related to their love of reading. Some book-themed merchandise maybe? Something they can use while they escape into yet another novel? Or maybe something that'll look fab in their new reading nook. Believe us - there are so many options with regards to buying gifts for reading fanatics. It's not all just books - as great as they are. If you wish to purchase something a little different for them, you just need to use a little imagination and think outside... the book! So we've come up with ideas for non-book gifts that you could give to a book aficionado and if you're a bit of a bookworm yourself, there's no reason why you shouldn't treat yourself too! For many of the items mentioned here, there are also book-themed versions available if you want to really amp up the literary connection. 1. BOOK VOUCHERS OK, this isn't the most groundbreaking of gift ideas when it comes to buying a present for a book fan, and a bit of a safe option (this list gets a bit more interesting as we go on - promise!) But if there's one thing that avid readers love more than receiving a new book, it's receiving a voucher so that they can head down to their nearest book shop and purchase a copy of the latest book they've had their eye on. And at least this way you'll know that they're bound to get a book they really, really want! 2. BOOKMARKS We know, we know - another simple idea! But let's face it book lovers - those who prefer to read printed books anyway - can never have too many bookmarks. Furthermore, book marks are a gift item that's quite reasonably priced so it'll be quite easy on your pocket. And if it's a gift that you're going to post, you can just slip it into a card. You can get a wide variety of bookmarks and not just the type made from card. There's some lovely resin ones; laser cut-out wood or metal; leather; magnetic ones that attach to the corner of a page... If you're a bit crafty, you could always crochet them a pretty and unique bookmark. 3. BOOK SLEEVES Books are very precious to book aficionados so this one is perfect for someone who loves their printed books. Book sleeves are a type of pouch, usually with a zip that can fit over individual books that keep them safe and limit damage while they're being jostled about among the many other possessions in your bag. Once again, if you're a bit on the crafty side, you could always knit, crochet, or sew a book sleeve, and no doubt the extra effort will be appreciated. If the recipient prefers to read eBooks, then a sleeve for their tablet is another option. 4. TOTE BAG A book sleeve is ideal for one book, but you'll need something a bit more roomier if you have more than one book. A simple tote bag makes a great book bag for someone who likes to cart a few books around with them. And yes you've guessed it - if you're handy with a needle and thread, you could always sew one up for them! There are also some lovely book-themed tot bags around that the avid reader would just adore! 5. READING JOURNAL/PLANNER Planners and journals are all the rage these days. There are ones for health and fitness; mindfulness; achieving goals, and there are plenty of journals and planners out there aimed at those who like to read. We reckon it's a must have for bibliophiles. Reading journals or planners are an excellent way to track your reading, remind yourself of your favourite reads, and help you remember what you'd like to read next. 6. PERSONAL LIBRARY KIT We thought that we knew everything there was to know about book-related products on the market but we had no idea that library kits are actually a thing! Where have we been! Personal library kits are a gift option that's more aimed at the 'generous bookworm' - the reader who likes to loan out their books to others. It's always nice to share... but it's not so nice when what you've loaned out is not returned! Library kits save book owners from having to remember what they have loaned out and to whom, and whether or not the books were returned. While we know that there's probably an app for this, a library kit is for those who like to keep things a little more 'old school.' Library kits come with items such as a rubber stamp and ink pad; checkout cards; pencils, self-adhesive pockets and anything else that makes you feel like a librarian before everything went high-tech! Come to think of it, these library kits might also make a good gift for a bookworm who actually does work in a library! 7. BEVERAGES And no we don't mean a can of coke! There is a reason why there are cafes located within many libraries and bookshops nowadays - because books and beverages, especially cosy warming drinks, go together hand in hand! Who wouldn't like to be sipping on something delicious and comforting while they're getting swept away in another great story? So what better gift could you give a bibliophile than a nice selection of teas or maybe even a year-long tea subscription? The book lover who loves tea just as much as they love reading will be spoilt for choice on deciding what brew to have before they settle down to read a good book. And if tea's not their thing, then there's coffee, hot chocolate... or maybe even something stronger! Whiskey anyone? 8. EDIBLE TREATS As the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe correctly said, it is dull to drink without eating, so perhaps you'd like to give the recipients some edible goodies to go with the beverages! Cakes, cookies and brownies are great to munch on while you're enjoying a hot drink and a good read. Boxes of chocolate or fudge are also a great treat. If you don't want to order something that's ready-made, you could always buy them kits for cakes, scones or muffins for instance, were they can make themselves some freshly-baked goodies for when they're ready to settle down to read. Or if they like baking as much as they enjoy reading, perhaps you can get them some bakeware so that they can whip up some bakes to enjoy while they're reading. If you yourself are a dab-hand at baking, perhaps you can rustle up some book-shaped cakes or cookies, or literary themed cupcakes. You could also give them edible treats connected to their favourite read or a well-known book. For example Turkish delight (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe) mix for currant buns (A Little Princess) hot chocolate or chocolate fondue kits (Chocolat) gift box with ingredients to make a treacle tart (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.) You could also give them a framed piece of kitchen art you've designed yourself featuring the recipe. For more inspiration regarding food, recipes and books, check out The Book Club Cook Book by Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp. The possibilities when it come to giving edible goodies as gifts for book-lovers are endless! 9. FOOD/DRINK ACCESSORIES We've already established how food and drink partner really well with books. But now you'll need something to eat them off and drink them out of! Mugs, china teacups and saucers, teapots or a nice tray to transport edible and drinkable goodies and reading material over to the reading space are gifts that will be very well received. 10. GET COSY! We always think of reading as such a cosy activity - and at Peppermint Teal, we're big fans of cosy self-care rituals! Does anyone know a book-lover who doesn't enjoy getting all cosy and comfy while getting stuck into a novel? So for the book worm in your life, how about the ultimate in gifts that spell comfort and warmth so that they can get extra comfy while indulging in their favourite pursuit? Fluffy blankets; cosy socks; hot water bottles with wooly covers, shawls and large cushions are all great ideas. One of the advantages of giving such gifts is that they are practical gifts that can be used at anytime and not just for reading, and they'll come in extra handy during the autumn and winter months. 10. CANDLES While we don't think that reading by candlelight is great for your eyes, but continuing with the cosy theme, we do think that having lit candles while you're reading adds to the ambience - especially if they're beautifully scented with a fragrance that promotes relaxation. 11. OUTDOOR ACCESSORIES These are gifts that will appeal to those who love to read outdoors. Though if you're going to give these as Christmas presents, chances are they won't be able to use these for a few more months - unless you live in Oz! These gifts are similar to those mentioned under 'cosy' but these will be blankets, rugs and cushions that are outdoor, waterproof, and more portable versions that you can use in your back garden, or take to the park or beach. A sun hat or sunglasses might also be very well received. 12. TICKETS TO A BOOK FAIR We can't think of a single bibliophile who wouldn't relish the prospect of being surrounded by all things literary. So buying them a ticket to an upcoming book/writers/literary festival will be right , or write (hehe!) up their street! These events are a fantastic way of bringing writers and readers together in certain towns or cities. It's an opportunity to hear readings by authors; talk to writers and publishers; discover new book titles; have books signed; listen to poetry recitals, and even watch acting performances. It's a great occasion for people who really enjoy the creative scene and the written word, and no doubt a lot of fun for those who really enjoy reading. 13. THEATRE /CINEMA TICKETS An avid reader might like to see the pages of their favourite novel come to life on the stage or on the big screen. So if there is a play or film adaptation of a novel that's just been released, you might want to treat your readaholic friend to tickets... and they can see which version of the literary work they prefer. It'll definitely make for an interesting discussion! 14. READING SUBSCRIPTION BOX We're looking at ideal gifts for readers that are not books but we have to admit - this one might actually contain a book! But book subscription boxes are such a lovely gift to receive that we just had to include it in this list. Each company will offer different items with their boxes but you can generally find things like bookmarks; candles; edible treats, mugs and so much more. If it's a bit daunting to subscribe for boxes on a monthly basis, a one-off gift box will still be very much appreciated. 15. BOOK THEMED ITEMS There's a whole host of book-themed and book-shaped gifts out there that book lovers will just die for! Jewelry; t-shirts; sweaters; vases; socks; tree ornaments, even hair accessories. You name it, it's there! There are no end of possibilities when it comes to buying gifts for the bibliophiles in your life. Hope we've inspired you with some of our ideas! Photos: Wix GIFs: Wix Blog graphics: Angel Noire

The road to healthy living is paved with good intentions: getting more sleep; exercising regularly; drinking more water, and consuming the all-important five portions of fruit and veg every day. There are some lucky people who have no problems getting their five-a-day. And despite the fact that most of us love fruits and veggies and have no aversion to them, we also love chocolate, cakes, pastries and anything sugary and stodgy. And more often than not, that's what we tend to opt for - especially when we need to dash. It seems such a mission to remember to eat healthily with our fast-track lifestyles where we're always on the go. With thanks to ThorstenF at Pixabay So we convince ourselves many a time that the jam tart we're scoffing is actually quite healthy because it contains jam which is made from, er, fruit; that coffee and chocolate are good for you because they are made from beans; chips are made from potatoes which is a vegetable so all good in the hood there, and sugar comes from a plant - need we say more! But seriously, who are we trying to kid? SO WHAT COUNTS AS A PORTION OF FRUIT OR VEG? There seems to be a great deal of confusion as to what constitutes a single serving of fruit or vegetables but it's widely believed to be around 80g. The following are examples of single servings: 1 150ml glass of pure fruit juice 1 thick slice of pineapple or melon 3 heaped tablespoons of pulses or beans 1 apple, pear, orange, banana or other similar sized fruit 2 plums or kiwi fruit 1⁄2 a grapefruit 3 heaped tablespoons of vegetables 1/2 an avocado 3 heaped tablespoons of fruit salad 1 heaped tablespoon of raisins or sultanas 3 heaped tablespoons of stewed fruit 3 dried apricots 1 cupful of grapes, cherries or berries 1 small bowl of salad With the exception of potatoes, which are very starchy and aren’t included in the recommended five a day, all other fruit and vegetables count, whether they're fresh, frozen, dried, tinned, or pure juices. But it's worth remembering that no matter how much pure, freshly-squeezed juice you drink, it still only counts as one portion owing to certain nutrients being depleted in the juicing process. And because they don’t contain the same vitamins and minerals as other fruit and veg, kidney beans; chick peas; lentils, and other pulses also only count as one portion, no matter how much you eat. Therefore in order to get a wide variety of nutrients, it’s advisable to munch on five different types of fruit and veg each day. IS FIVE ENOUGH? It's also worth noting that when people talk about getting their five-a-day, that's just the minimum amount that we should be consuming every day. Washing fruits and vegetables can reduce the nutritional content (but it has to be done!) And it can be reduced even further during the cooking process. And that's before we take into account that there's the possibility that a lot of the fruit and veg we consume may not so nutrient-rich due to environmental factors. So we ideally should be aiming for at least seven servings but goodness - it's sometimes hard enough just getting the five so we'll concentrate on that for now! It's actually not that hard to eat the recommended daily amount of fruit and veg. It's just that we all live such busy lives these days and we've fallen into a pattern of bad eating habits. For instance, an ideal healthy-eating day could see you start with chopped mango and pineapple with yogurt for breakfast; an oaty, apricot flapjack with a handful of dried fruit and nuts a for mid-morning snack; prawn salad for lunch; a snack of fruit salad for later on in the afternoon; and salmon with spinach, asparagus, broccoli and potatoes for dinner. What could be simpler? With thanks to DanaTentis at Pixabay There are many ways in which you could effortlessly get the recommended five-a-day without overthinking it so it doesn't seem such a drag. Many of the ideas below are not at all unrealistic ways of getting more fruit and veg into your diet. It's unlikely that you'll be able to change your eating habits overnight, and lifestyle changes always seem a bit daunting but you'll gradually be able to work your way up to incorporating more fruit and veg into your diet - and once you know how easy it is, you'll be unstoppable! 1. USE REAL FRUIT INSTEAD OF ARTIFICIAL SYRUPS IN DRINKS It's always disappointing when you call into a coffee shop, order a fruity iced drink, smoothie or milkshake - and find them pouring sickly-sweet, synthetic-tasting syrup into the glass instead of blending real fruit. Well you can't control what your local coffee shop uses, but you can make delicious cold drinks at home using real fruit. It may take a little more effort than opening a bottle but it's so worth it! 2. GET SPIRALIZING! Spiralizing has caught on in a big way where vegetables such as carrots, squash, beets and courgettes are cut into thin, spaghetti-like strands using a spiralizer before being blanched (if necessary) and added to salads or eaten in place of pasta with pesto or tomato-based sauces. 3. CAULIFLOWER 'RICE' ISN'T JUST FOR THOSE DOING ATKINS! For some of us, the first time we heard about cauliflower 'rice', it was something that Atkins dieters were making as a substitute to rice, where they would pulse cauliflower florets to resemble rice grains. It might sound quite bland but with seasoning, herbs, spices, a little chopped onion or crushed garlic, and a lot of imagination it can be very tasty. And of course now it's possible to make pizza 'dough' bases out of the humble cauliflower, or even use mashed cauliflower as a topping for shepherd's pie instead of potato. Oh and fried cauliflower 'rice' is so delicious and not nearly as heavy as real rice. 4. SNACK ON DRIED FRUIT AND FROZEN BERRIES INSTEAD OF SWEETS Most of us love sweet, sugary treats but dried and frozen fruit can be deliciously sweet and it's a healthier way to get your fix of something sweet. 5. ICE ICE BABY Blend yogurt, and honey with your favourite fruit, pop into ice-lolly moulds and you'll have a delicious, frozen sweet treat that takes next to no time to prepare. 6. GO BANANAS! Bananas are so versatile and contain a lot of potassium which is great when you need an energy boost. There's so much you can do with them. You can have them on toast; in porridge; blended into a milkshake or smoothies for breakfast; coat them in chocolate and freeze them as an alternative to ice-lollies; mash them into pancake, muffin or cake batter; bake or barbecue them and serve them with ice-cream... the list goes on! 7. DREAM TOPPING Purée some berries with honey and pour over ice-cream as a healthy alternative to sugar-laden ice-cream toppings. 8. JUICY! There aren't many people who don't own a juicer - but there are a lot of juicer owners who don't use them. This is a real shame because pure, freshly squeezed juice is so much healthier for you and tastes much better than what comes out of a carton. And of course with a vast array of fruit and veggies available, you can have fun trying to come up with unique flavour combinations. To prevent your barely-used juicer from just sitting on top of your kitchen cabinet, gathering dust in it's box, if you're a lazy gal or guy - as some of us are - when looking for a juicer, make sure you got for one that: Is easy to store Doesn't have too many different parts that need to be washed Gets the most nutrients out of the fruit/veg Doesn't require too much food prep 9. SWAP POTATO CHIPS FOR APPLE CRISPS Slice an apple (or pear) very thinly; place on a baking sheet; place in the oven at a low temperature, and bake until crispy, turning over occasionally. 10. BLEND VEG INTO SHOP BOUGHT FOOD There are times when we don't have time to make things from scratch - no matter how much we want to. But you can always add veggies to shop-bought stews or blend vegetables into shop-bought soups; add mushrooms to frozen pizza, or sautéed onion, garlic and mushrooms to shop-bought pasta sauces. 11. MAKE VEGGIE DESSERTS! It started with carrot cake but now there seems to be a trend for adding vegetables such as beetroot, sweetcorn, pumpkin and courgette to baked goodies and desserts - and it seems to be going down a storm. It's great because you can enjoy the sweet treats you love so much AND get the necessary nutrients. So you get the both of best worlds! But please note, when we talk about desserts made using vegetables, we're referring to the healthier homemade versions made with a higher vegetable content and a lot less fat and sugar. 12. CHIPS AND DIPS Dips and salsas taste so much better than the shop-bought stuff and they're so quick and simple to make. When you're having your mates over, or want to snack on something in front of the telly, try making delicious guacamoles and spicy salsas to serve with tortilla chips. Not only do they taste great but you'll feel so much healthier. 13. FEEL THE PULSE IN A CAN! These are a great cupboard stand-by and a good source of fibre. A serving (three tablespoons) of canned beans or lentils can be added to soups, stews, salads etc. And let's face it - how much effort goes into opening a can? 14. LIVEN UP THAT SALAD Gone are the days of boring lettuce, cucumber and tomato salads. Today we have a fantastic array of fruits and vegetables available - not to mention awesome dressings - which will change the way you look at salads forever and let's face it - it's not exactly a struggle to prepare a salad! A favourite here at PepperMint Teal is a prawn noodle salad with mango and avocado, and a chilli, lime and coriander dressing. Can never get tired of that! 15. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN'T DO WITH AN AVOCADO??? Back in the day, who would have thought that one day avocado on toast would be a thing?Years ago there was only one way in which people used to eat avocados and that was halved with a little salt, pepper and lemon juice. The humble avocado has since come a long way, and like the banana, it's quite versatile, and is making an appearance in breakfast dishes and even sweet recipes. Salads don't seem the same without them, and you can add avocados to dips, salsas, dressings, pasta dishes, pizza toppings, smoothies, shakes, desserts and it can also be used as a substitute for butter or cream in cakes and mousses. There was even a contestant on Come Dine With Me baking them - who knew? There - it's as simple as that! The above is a guide to eating more fruit and veg on a regular basis. Did you struggle to get in your five a day and overcome unhealthy eating habits? What's your fave way of getting at least part of your five a day? Images from Pixabay Word cloud by Angel Noire

It's well known that from the beginning of January each year, many people promise themselves that they will absolutely without fail 'get fit this year.' End-of-the-year events such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve - and let's not forget the ongoing series of lockdowns and quarantining which has seen many of us reaching for the biscuit tin - will have seen a great deal of excess and indulgence which we now want to shake off and replace with more healthier habits which includes regular exercise. But while starting an exercise routine isn't the problem, keeping it going usually is and before the month is over, so is the exercise plan! It's a known fact that many gym memberships - while purchased with the best of intentions - don't get used after a while. Those running shoes that were bought for going on 5am runs are still on the shoe rack, barely used. Before you know it, you've slipped back into bad habits and have ended up in the same old unfit rut that you were trying to get out of. WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT EXERCISING? With thanks to karabulakastan from Pixabay. Quite a lot actually! Everyone knows the obvious advantages to a regular exercise routine: you shed pounds; keep the weight off, and develop abs that would make any of the Magic Mike dancers insanely jealous! But there's so much to exercise than maintaining a great physique. Other benefits include: Stronger bones and muscles Reduced risk of chronic illnesses Improved mobility Reduced anxiety and depression Increased levels of confidence Improved mood Great energy booster Promotes better sleep More improved memory Helps concentration levels Helps to clear brain fog Promotes glowing skin Good for your heart Makes you feel happier Boost your sex life! Now who wouldn't want all that! AND THERE'S MORE! BUILDING STAMINA AND ENDURANCE Stamina can be described as the ability of your body to withstand physical exertion for a prolonged duration. It is the ability to endure short and very high-intensity workout as well as long and low-intensity workout. If your stamina is good, you will be able to resist various issues like disease, fatigue and stress. By improving your physical strength you will also improve your mental strength. You can increase your stamina by doing some specific exercises that challenge your body. BECOMING MORE SELF-DISCIPLINED For those of us who are a little too relaxed, getting fit and active is a good way to become more disciplined. An exercise plan is a good way of sticking to a routine, eating and drinking healthier options, and making better lifestyle choices. ADOPTING HEALTHIER EATING HABITS With thanks to FotoShopTofs at Pixabay Exercise and healthy eating usually go hand-in-hand, with a lot of people assessing their diet and eating habits once they start to get more serious about their exercise regime. Furthermore optimizing nutrition is essential for a good work out performance so it's natural for people to change their ways with regards to food. A BETTER USE OF YOUR TIME Let's be honest - a lot of us don't make good use of our time... even though we often complain that we don't have enough of it! But instead of procrastinating, exercise is a good way of using your time productively and can also lead to to a better frame of mind that makes you productive in other areas of your life as well. DEVELOPING A NEW PASSION Finding something that you're totally mad about is fantastic - and when it's something that brings a lot of emotional and physical health benefits that's even better. It's wonderful to see someone who's found something that they're so deeply interested in: they have a sparkle in their eye; they're positively glowing when they talk about their new interest, and their positivity and enthusiasm may well rub off on others. BECOMING MORE SOCIABLE With thanks to David Mark from Pixabay Especially true if you're joining a gym or a class, it gets you out of the house and meeting people, where you could possibly make new friends - or even find love! POSSIBLY EVEN STARTING A NEW CAREER! It's not unusual for people who start a fitness activity to become so engrossed with it that training to do this as a career becomes a natural progression for them. There are few things better than making money out of doing something you love so that work never seems like work! FERTILITY People who are trying for a baby are often told to do a certain amount of exercise regularly and studies have shown that exercise reduces the risk of ovulation problems and decreases the risk of miscarriage. So you know all the benefits of exercise but what do you need to take into consideration before starting your work out plan? FIRST THINGS FIRST 1. DOCTOR, DOCTOR! No matter how fit you think you are, it's always worth consulting your doctor before starting an exercise plan to ensure that what you have in mind is suitable for you. An early checkup can detect any health problems or conditions that could put you at risk for an injury during exercise. If you have an injury, medical condition, or are pregnant, your doctor and/or an exercise therapist can help design an appropriate exercise program for you that will be suitable for your range of movement, physical strength and endurance. This is especially vital for those who are newcomers to strenuous and vigorous physical exercise. And if you choose to hire a personal trainer, they will understand your strengths and limitations, and will be able to create a plan that will be equipped to meet your needs and capabilities, thus optimizing your workout performance. 2. LET'S TALK BUDGET! With thanks to 5132824 from Pixabay Oh why must we talk about money! Hmm... maybe because along with levels of health and fitness, the amount of money you are able to invest in your new exercise regime will, whether we like it or not, will dictate the choices that you have available to you. How awful is it to have your heart set on something and then realise that you don't have the funds to pay for it? Most interests require a certain level of investment, and health and fitness is no different. You'll need to account for (if applicable) membership, classes, personal training, equipment, clothes and footwear, health supplements, and even travel. All of these all add up and it would be a shame to have to stop doing something you love because you can no longer afford it. Total up the costs and see if it's affordable. Don't be too disheartened if it's out of your budget. You might be able to get deals on membership or classes if you shop around. See if you can pick up pre-used equipment either from friends or online (make sure they're in good working condition) Find out wherever you can make savings. 3. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! There may be activities or classes that are not held within your local area which may require a bit of effort for you to get there. Think about how your daily schedule may affect this. Sometimes the commute can really take it out of you, and you might end up coming home really late. If you're not perturbed by this then fine, if not see if there are any other alternatives. Many classes for example are now offered online, so you can see if that option is available to you. 4. STAY HYDRATED With thanks to Olga Oginskaya from Pixabay We all know that staying hydrated is important at the best of times. But when you're working out it's even more essential for you to maintain adequate levels of hydration. Replenishing fluids during physical activities is important for supporting optimal exercise performance, especially when working out in hot conditions. Furthermore, sufficiently hydrating after exercising can help you recover quickly and get you ready for your next work out session. 5. OPTIMIZING NUTRITION Consuming a balanced diet with all the necessary food groups is essential when it comes to maintaining your level of performance in your support your fitness program. That includes fats and carbs but remember there's a difference between 'good' fats and carbs (nuts, seeds, avocados, brown rice, oats, quinoa etc.) and 'bad' fats and carbs (crisps, chips, biscuits, cakes etc.) Good nutrition is vital to maintain healthy energy levels, fuel your body before a workout, optimize performance, and aids with post-exercise recovery. 6. WARM UP & COOL DOWN With thanks to Wow Phochiangrak from Pixabay We've all been told how important it is to warm up and cool down before and after a work out session - but these are steps that a lot of people still skip. Warming up before working out can help prevent injuries and improve your performance. It also improves your flexibility and reduce soreness after a session. The importance of cooling down is that it helps your body return to its normal state. Cooling down for just a couple of minutes can help restore normal breathing patterns and even reduce the chance of soreness. 7. YOUR BODY'S CALLING - ANSWER IT! If you’re a complete novice when it comes to working out or you're starting to get back into it after not exercising for so long, don't push yourself and be aware of your limits. It's always best to stop exercising if you feel pain or discomfort while working out. It's never a good idea to ignore the pain and push past it as it can cause injuries. If you're feeling short of breath; lightheaded, or nauseous - take a breather; stop and rest before picking up where you left off. Bear in mind that working harder, faster and doing a thousand planks a minute isn't necessarily better nor effective, especially if you're exercising incorrectly. Taking your time to progress through your fitness program can help you maintain your routine in the long term and make the most of it. 8. ALLOW TIME FOR RECOVERY Hands up all those who started an exercise plan with frenzied zeal and enthusiasm and then suffered physical and mental burnout? Exercising for too long or too intensely will only tire you out, causing you sore muscles and joints and perhaps even injuries. What was supposed to give you the feel good factor, now gives you anything but! To avoid this, plan time between work out sessions for your body and mind to rest and recover. 9. BE FLEXIBLE WITH YOUR REGIME It's not just your body that needs to be flexible but your plan does too! Unfortunately things like illness; family issues and urgent work projects can get in the way. So if you're feeling unwell or you have other unavoidable issues, don't beat yourself up. Instead give yourself permission to take some time out. If you're worried that you may never get back into the habit of working out - especially when you started out so well. Try to work out for just five minutes a day in order to keep the momentum going. We've given you lots to think about and that's before we've even started on our list of ways that will inspire you to make physical fitness activities a part of your everyday life! So here are fifteen ways which will hopefully see you make exercise a regular activity in maintaining your levels of health and fitness. 1. FIND AN ACTIVITY YOU ENJOY It goes without saying that if you don't enjoy it, you won't employ it! It's a widely held belief that exercising involves the usual suspects: jogging, aerobics, football... but what if these activities aren't your thing? It might be a while before you find something you wouldn't mind doing. There's a whole variety of activities that might interest you if the run-of-the-mill ones don't: indoor rock climbing; pole fitness; hurling (no we don't mean chucking up after one too many!) boxercise... the list is endless. With thanks to falco from Pixabay Think of activities you'd like to do - and think about ones you definitely wouldn't! See what your family/friends/colleagues are doing in order to get inspiration Check out what kind of things the local gyms are offering. Even if you choose not to go to a gym, it'll give you an idea. 2. TEAM PLAYER OR SOLO STAR With thanks to Mircea from Pixabay One of the things that put people off exercise is the boredom of exercising alone when they would rather be part of a motivating team or class and have the added benefit of the social aspect. While others feel that they would perform better completely alone or in a one-to-one session with a trainer or instructor. Decide which option works best for you. 3. GET INTO A ROUTINE Think about what the best time for you to start working out is and how many times a week you'd like to exercise. Remember to be realistic about your goals, and also don't plan work outs too close to bedtime or soon after dinner. Finding time to exercise can be a challenge, so make it simpler by scheduling time to exercise as you would with most other activities. Find ways in which you can incorporate physical activities into your daily routine which won't disrupt things that you normally do such as watching a TV show while using the treadmill; read while working out on a stationary bike, or going for a walk during your lunch hour. 4. START SMALL! Don't feel as though you need to begin with one hour sessions seven days a week! It's best to start of doing the bare minimum (15-20 minute sessions) three times a week - or whatever you're comfortable with - and then build up gradually by doing a few more minutes/repetitions with every session. Start slow and progress at your own pace, especially if you're just beginning to exercise. Give yourself the necessary time to warm up and cool down, and work out at a pace where you don't feel overly tired. As your stamina increases, so will your work out sessions. 5. INVEST IN EXERCISE GEAR With thanks to Oliver Sjöström from Pixabay Your baggy jogging bottoms and spaghetti sauce-stained t-shirt and old plimsols might not fuel you into getting into shape! So what do you do? Invest in some good work-out gear to motivate you and get you looking and feeling the part. And it doesn't have to be mega expensive - most chain stores do reasonable quality gymwear at affordable prices. The important thing is that it's comfortable to wear and you can move around quite easily in it. But do purchase the best footwear that you can afford as it's important for comfort and support. 6. AN EXERCISE BUDDY MIGHT HELP With thanks to 5132824 from Pixabay Even if you decide that you want to be a solo star when it comes to working out, it often helps if you have a work out buddy, especially if you need that support, motivation and encouragement... as well as someone who you're accountable to so that you don't give up at the first hurdle! Someone who's in th same boat as you and shares similar exercise goals would be a good choice, even if you don't work out in the same space at the same time. It's good to have someone to give you that motivation and support, who you can share ideas with, and discuss your progress and goals. Someone who can spur you on in a non-competitive way might be exactly what you need. 7. REWARD YOURSELF Sometimes you may need to bribe, we mean, motivate yourself into doing something that you don't always want to do. And that's where rewarding yourself comes in handy. It can be something like a massage, a new item of clothing (like new gym wear!) or going for a swim. But if the thought of spending money every time you have to feel motivated fills you with dread, you could always go for a hike, enjoy a relaxing afternoon reading or watching a movie, chill out on the beach or in your garden, or go hang out with your mates and have some laughs! With thanks to William Adams from Pixabay 8. UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE RESULTS OVERNIGHT One of the reasons why people give up on their exercise program is because they don't see the results they were looking for after 10 push ups! This is where patience comes in and the understanding that you won't always see instant physical results. You know what they say about watched pots - well the same applies here as well. So instead of wondering why you don't have biceps to rival Mark Wahlberg's, focus on the positives that exercise is bringing into your life. Are you enjoying your gym sessions and the chance to get out of the house more? Have you noticed an improvement in your sleep patterns? Do you feel happier and healthier? Concentrate on the things that you are achieving with with your exercise plan - be patient and you'll see the desired results soon enough. 9. REALIZE THAT YOU MIGHT SUCK AT YOUR CHOSEN WORK OUT ACTIVITY INITIALLY! You've invested a truckload of money into your new physical activity, you've gone on and on about it to anyone who'll listen - and now after a week, you want to give up and forget you'd ever heard about this new exercise craze that's taken the world by storm. Why? Because you suck at it! Or at least you think you do. Not many people take to new things like a duck to water the first time they try them. That's where patience, perseverance, practice and the realization that you might not be perfect at your first attempt comes in. Think about all the things you didn't do well at first. If that had been your reason for giving up, then you wouldn't be able to do anything! Take small steps and set yourself attainable goals. Be consistent with your sessions. You never know by the end of the first month you may find you've come a long way... 10. BE KIND TO YOURSELF With thanks to Shakti Shekhawat from Pixabay Think about the kind of things you would say to someone who was starting a new exercise plan but they felt it wasn't going as well as they would have liked. Thing about the things you would say and do to encourage and motivate them. Show yourself the same kindness and support. 11. REMIND YOURSELF OF BENEFITS AND GOALS When deciding to start working out, it's important to keep in mind why you're doing it, and what your ultimate goal is. Furthermore, try not to make your goal too broad and be more specific. For instance, simply stating, that you want to lose weight and tone up, makes it harder to focus on what you want to achieve and to measure your progress. But saying that you want to lose ten pounds, and tone up your arms so you'll look fab in your wedding gown by mid-August will make tracking your progress much easier. 12. MIX IT UP A LITTLE! Even if you don't do so during the early stages, plan to include some different activities into your regime at a later stage. Different activities can help keep exercise boredom at bay, as well as reducing your chances of injuring yourself by overusing one specific muscle or joint. Aim to alternate between different activities that emphasize different parts of your body, such as walking, swimming, weights etc. And also be a bit imaginative with regards to future activities and aim to make it fun. Maybe your workout routine includes various activities, such as walking, aerobics, or dance. But don't stop there. Take a weekend hike with your mates, or take a ballet class for adults. Find activities you enjoy to add to your fitness routine. 13. KEEP YOURSELF ENTERTAINED with thanks to Pexels from Pixabay Some people often complain that they find working out to be too tedious. If you can, throw in a little something to keep you entertained. Work out in front of the telly. If nineties hip hop is your jam, have that playing in the background. Listen to your favourite podcast or audio book... anything to make exercise seem less monotonous. But make sure it's nothing that's likely to distract you. 14. VISUALIZATION! With thanks to Renata Hille from Pixabay OK, we know this one may sound a little too woo-woo for some of you. But sports coaches who have trained many a successful athlete have incorporated this into their training so surely it can't be a bad thing! Even if you're not planning on winning gold at the next Olympics, if you're someone who needs a lot of motivation or who gives up too easily, visualization could be the way to go in improving success with your exercise programme. Visualization involves using your senses to create a mental image of a physical task before you attempt it, including imagining what the movement will feel like in your muscles and your mind. 15. TRACKING YOUR PROGRESS A written plan may encourage you to stay on track. Furthermore, tracking your progress, such as logging your repetitions or noting your running times, can help keep you motivated and improve your performance. Retake your personal fitness assessment a month after you begin your program and then again every few months. Then you can make any necessary changes such as increasing the amount of time you exercise in order to continue improving and meeting your goals... Or maybe you're exercising just the right amount to meet your fitness goals in which case you can continue with your plan until you feel otherwise. If you lose motivation, set new goals or try a new activity. Starting an exercise program is an important decision and one that your physical and mental health will love you for. But it doesn't have to be an overwhelming choice. With careful planning, making healthy choices , and pacing yourself, you can establish a healthy habit that lasts a lifetime. Good luck! Photos: Pixabay Blog Graphics: Angel Noire

Just before October began, I decided to take part in the American Cancer Society's Photo a Day in October Challenge. It's the first time I'd ever taken part in any kind of fundraiser and it's for a cause that's very close to my heart. For the entire month, I’ve been posting one photo a day to raise funds and awareness for cancer research and support. And today that challenge came to an end. But the opportunity to raise more funds hasn't... What’s the Photo-A-Day in October Challenge? It’s quite simple really. For each day during the month of October, I posted a photo that follows one of the prompts - which are open to interpretation - set out by The American Cancer Society. I posted the photos to The American Cancer Society's Photo a Day in October Facebook page and my JustGiving page  set up through The American Cancer Society (so all donations go straight to them, not me!) As the days went by, the challenge became more, well challenging especially due to ill-health! But I had to remind myself that it was for a brilliant cause that could benefit so many people so I just had to keep going. Why I’m Took on This Challenge The Photo a Day Challenge was a great, fun way to raise both awareness and funds. But behind all the fun was a very serious reason for why took part... When I first heard about this challenge, I jumped at the chance to participate. But then the doubts set in. I've never really done any kind of fundraising challenge before. Could I really do this initiative proud and raise enough money? Will I be consistent enough to take photos all throughout the month? Furthermore, my photography skills kind of suck - am I really the right person to be taking part in a photography challenge, especially one that's so important? Probably not. So before the challenge even got started, I'd talked myself out of it and figured I'd take part next year. But the night before the challenge started, I saw a heartbreaking announcement from a friend announcing the loss of a family member to cancer. Many of us have been affected by cancer in some way, whether it's a family member, friend, or our own personal experience. The American Cancer Society works tirelessly to fight this disease; raising awareness as well as funds for life-saving research and providing support to patients and their loved ones. I saw this challenge as a way to do my bit and contribute to a cause that means so much. So after reading the message from my friend who along with the rest of his family are obviously grieving terribly, I decided, at the eleventh hour, that I just had to take part. So I did! What You Can Do Even though the Photo a Day officially ended today, there's still ample opportunity for you to make a donation. You can head over to the JustGiving fundraising page  and donate. Every cent counts so any donation, big or small, will be gratefully received. Furthermore you could always check out the photos of other participants and donate to their pages. It all goes to The American Cancer Society at the end of the day so it's all good! If you're not able to make any donations, and we know that not everyone can, then please feel free to share the fundraising page with others. As I've said, It all adds up to something bigger. Moreover, The American Cancer Society runs a whole variety of challenges throughout the year - perhaps there's something you'd like to take part in yourself? Let’s Make a Difference Together So thank you all in advance for your support, encouragement, donations, and for being a part of this important cause in any way that you can. Let’s make a difference together - one (hopefully great!) photo at a time.

Actress Jennifer Aniston once admitted that watching The Bachelor is her guilty pleasure. I watched one series back in 2012 where Courtney Robertson waltzed off into the sunset with her bachelor Ben Flajnik - The only time I've ever watched The Bachelor. I found the show to be over the top, contrived, and appeared to be scripted. It was something that people watched when they didn't want to engage in anything too intellectually taxing... but oh my goodness it was so addictive! I hated myself for not doing something more productive with my time but once I started watching I had to continue in order to find out who Ben would choose. But I made sure that it was to be the last series I watched! We all have our guilty pleasures in life. We all enjoy something which we feel a little bad for liking. And we shouldn't feel bad - after all no one is ever harmed while we pursue our guilty pleasures - but we can't help feeling a little bit naughty all the same. It got me thinking about my own guilty pleasures - and I had a lot more than I thought. Naughty Mrs. D! 1. Romance novels I wish I could say that I love rolling with the classics and I have a copy of War And Peace on my bedside table but that just wouldn't be true! I'm a sucker for romance novels and it's one of my ambitions to increase my collection of Danielle Steel and Mills and Boon novels. I'm lucky to be married to such a romantic man so there's no shortage of romance in this household but these novels do help to reaffirm my belief in love and romance (as if I need reaffirmation!) I'm sure I'll get around to War And Peace one day! 2. Puddings I have a ridiculously sweet tooth. My parents are big sugar fans so I reckon I inherited my sweet tooth from them - and my dad in particular loves puddings. And if there's lashings of custard, so much the better! I always stop off at M&S every Friday to ensure that I have enough yummy desserts and puddings to last until Sunday. During the cold winter months, there's nothing I enjoy more than to curl up with something sweet. Unfortunately it means that I go back on the promise that I made to myself to be healthier. Oh well - at least I'm sensible from Monday to Thursday! 3. Magazines I've loved magazines pretty much from the time I've been able to read. When I was a kid, my aunts and uncles used to spoil me with comics and kids magazines. As I was growing up, I'd sneak a peak at women's magazines that my mum and aunts used to buy before I graduated to pop music and teen mags. At one point, I used to buy pretty much every magazine that was out there (or so it seemed!) which looking back was a ridiculous waste of money. These days I limit myself to just two magazines a week which isn't too bad and provides me with something to read on my way to and from work. The only problem is that our home is permanently strewn with magazines and pages that I've ripped out from them. So far Mr. D hasn't complained... 4. Bargains! I get such a buzz from buying things I really want that have been reduced to a fantastically great price. Books, clothes, shoes - you name it; if the price is low enough, I'm snapping it up! I don't mind admitting that I'm a great bargain hunter and I try very hard not to pay full price if I can avoid it which often means waiting until it's on sale. Whether this is a good thing or not is debateable but at least I can honestly say that say that I've never annoyed a retailer - or embarrassed myself - by haggling in my quest for a good bargain. 5. Reading in the bath Reading in the bath is all very good if you live by yourself. But when you live with others, you run the risk of irritating them when you hog the bathroom while you indulge in a bubble-filled bath with a little light reading material. Whether it's a magazine or one of those romance novels, it's perfect 'me' time - especially when I throw a little chocolate into the mix! 6. Salon pampering OK so there's a lot of beauty treatments I pay for at professional salons which I could actually do myself at home thus saving money. But I'm often short of time (OK, a little lazy!) and I like being pampered. Grooming often feels like a chore when I have to do it myself. And it doesn't help that there is a salon right down the road from me... 7. Celebrity gossip I don't like gossip. I don't like people who gossip. I'm careful not to gossip or repeat things that I've heard especially if it sounds dubious. So why is it that I'm addicted to the celebrity gossip pages of a particular national newspaper? It's not only me but one of my closest friends as well who can't get enough of the same gossip column, and we can often be found at work discussing in great depth what we've just read about Angelina, Jordan and co. Mr. D is not impressed by any form of gossip and I have to admit I'm not too proud of myself either - but I try to convince myself that we're not gossiping about real people! 8. Take aways/Eating Out When I cook at home I save money, I know what's going in my food, and it's healthier. But there are some days when we just can't be bothered to enter the kitchen - especially when we're having a lazy weekend, in which case we'll phone to get something delivered. And if we happen to be in town, we'll stop off at one of our favourite restaurants. The food's always delicious but I can't pretend I don't feel guilty afterwards. 9. The Internet Ever since I discovered the benefits of being connected to the world wide web, it's totally taken over my life. I do use it constructively - most of the time - but then there are times I'm just aimlessly surfing and I can spend hours wasting time looking at sites with animals wearing silly hats and people doing funny dances! I'm not sure what's so addictive about the internet that it causes me to waste time when I actually do have things to do like sleep for example - but it's one of those things that can't be explained. 10. Bed! I may enjoy lounging around in the bath tub but I absolutely love my bed and no matter how much time I spend in my lovely comfy bed it's never enough time. It's where I sleep; read my magazines and romance novels; indulge in puddings; surf the net; eat my take always; shop for bargains on the internet, and of course snuggle up to my gorgeous hubby. But I think I need to get out more! What are your guilty pleasures? Photos: Pixabay Blog graphics: Angel Noire

At Peppermint Teal we get excited about methods, techniques and products that promote healthy and great-looking hair and skin while using as little 'nasties' or expensive, high-tech gadgets as possible. The more natural and inexpensive, the better. So when we came across this video on Yasuko Kawamura's YouTube channel for reverse hair brushing, we were instantly taken with it and had to find out more... Not to mention try it out for ourselves! Reverse hair brushing, also known as inverted hair brushing (but not to be confused with the inversion hair method which also promotes healthy hair growth but is a different technique) is something we hadn't come across before but we were drawn to it initially because it looked so satisfyingly relaxing and pampering, and appeared so simple to do. Plus we were intrigued by the use of the camelia oil and the wooden hair-brushing tools. Then we delved into the benefits of reverse hair brushing and the theory behind why it works and we just had to give it a go. So for those of you who are also new to reverse hair brushing and want to know more about it - read on! WHAT IS REVERSE HAIR BRUSHING? Kawamura has said that this type of brushing technique is very popular among celebrities in Japan in order to keep their hair beautiful and free of those pesky grey strands! It is a hair brushing technique that involves tipping your head forward and then brushing your hair from the base of your head to the tip of your hair as often as a hundred times. HOW DOES IT WORK? It is believed that brushing stimulates blood circulation to the scalp which is important for delivering more nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles. This is important for healthy hair and melanocytes - the cells in the deepest part of the skin's epidermis (incidentally, melanocytes are also found in eyes) which produces and contains melanin. By keeping your melanocytes active and producing melanin which is then taken up into the hair, this may help keep your hair's natural colour and prevent greying - or at least excessive greying. While we haven't come across scientific evidence to back up these claims, the jury definitely seems to be out regarding the effectiveness of reverse hair brushing - or just brushing in general and the part in plays in hair and scalp health. Beverley Hills-based Dr. Ken Washenik , Board member of the North American Hair Research Society, claims that the belief that brushing your hair vigorously so that your scalp is stimulated thus increasing hair growth, is not backed up by any scientific or medical study. Though Arizona-based trichologist William Gaunitz believes that brushing can help with healthy hair growth. If the comments posted on Yasuko Kawamura's video are anything to go by, it would appear that those who have tried reverse-hair brushing or have done so for years, are very happy with the results. Perhaps it depends on the individual. The only way to find out for yourself if this will work or not is to give it a go. After all - you've got to brush your hair anyway so what have you got to lose? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF REVERSE HAIR BRUSHING? Although Yasuko isn't making any wild claims, she does talk about this relaxing technique (one plus point already!) possibly helping to prevent grey hairs from appearing. She also states that it produces softer, smoother, more tangle-free hair. Yasuko doesn't mention anything about reverse hair brushing causing your hair to thicken or grow longer in record time. But people who have previously used various scalp massaging techniques have noticed such improvements so it's a possibility. Yasuko does go on to state that massaging the back of the head does give a facelift effect (though thankfully not of the aging-Hollywood starlet facelight variety!) and the reverse brushing technique can also help with that. How's that for an added bonus? HOW OFTEN SHOULD THIS TECHNIQUE BE DONE? When asked in the comments, Yasuko suggested once a day. Every other day can also work, but we also recommend taking a short break every so often to get better results. HOW LONG BEFORE YOU NOTICE RESULTS? Around one month but of course it varies from person to person WHAT DO YOU NEED? THE HAIR BRUSH And not just any old hair brush either! Because you need to massage the scalp, you don't want a brush that has sharp bristles. And it's best to avoid nylon or plastic brushes which can cause that dreaded staticky hair. No one wants to look like Mr. Majeika! A paddle brush with some cushioning, and wooden, fairly spaced-out, round-tipped bristles works best for this technique. Wix Yasuko Kawamura explains that in Japan, people would use combs or brushes made with boxwood. But boxwood brushes are far from cheap! Therefore bamboo makes a good substitute, doesn't create static, and requires less maintenance than boxwood. HAIR OIL Although the oil step is not essential, it is a welcome addition to the reverse brushing technique. Yasuko Kawamura uses camelia oil, also known as Tsubaki oil, which is an oil used in hair and skincare in Japan. When used in haircare, it creates soft, beautiful, manageable hair. If you cannot get hold of camelia oil, then use an oil that has great haircare benefits such coconut, avocado or olive. You can also add a drop of essential oil that also has great haircare benefits such as rosemary or lavender. Remember that you are not creating a hair mask treatment so you don't need a lot of oil. One to two drops of oil in the palm of your hand (depending on the length of your hair) and then rubbed into the tips of the hairbrush bristles is all you need. You can skip the oil step altogether if you worry that it will make your hair too oily, or maybe you can use the oil as and when you want to, if you don't want to use it every day. THE TECHNIQUE It couldn't be simpler! Tip your head and flip your hair forward. Remember that your hair must be completely dry to carry out this method as it's never advisable to brush wet or damp hair. Start brushing from the base of your head all the way down to the tips of your hair. You can do this one hundred times OR... you can brush for fifty strokes before flipping your head and hair back, and then brushing the regular way for another fifty strokes. A hundred strokes may sound like you'll be there for an hour but you'll you'll have completed this technique in minutes! THINGS TO NOTE Your hair might become quite greasy very quickly even though you're using the bare minimum amount of oil. This will mean washing your hair a lot more frequently which could result in dry hair. Either skip the oil step completely, or just incorporate the oil every so often. It might not be so comfortable for people who have issues with their neck, back or shoulders. This is one of the reasons why Yasuko suggested brushing fifty strokes each way. If you notice any damage to your hair, it's best to stop and switch to a more suitable hair-improvement method. It might be necessary to take a break every so often (perhaps a three or four days every two weeks) to get better results. Are you a curly-haired girl or guy and wondering if this method will work for you? Check out Angel's post to find out more! Many thanks to Yasuko Kawamura for bring the reverse hair-brushing technique to our attention. We may never have heard of it if it hadn't been for her. We had a great time testing it out. You can find out the results in the following post but the fact that we're going to carry on with the reverse hair brushing tells you everything you need to know! And thanks to the lovely Eri for providing information which contributed to this post. Photos: Pixabay Blog graphics: Angel Noire

There was a very interesting quote we came across once that made total sense to us. It stated: The devil doesn't come to you with horns and a tail... He comes to you as everything you ever wanted. For those of you who have ever had the misfortune to have suffered emotional torment at the hands of a narcissist/psychopath/sociopath, you'll know just how true that quote is. Sadly these monsters look a lot like the rest of us. They look human; they sound human; they smile at us; do kind deeds; are respectable pillars of the community and are there for you in your hour of need. But then one day, when you least expect it, the mask slips, and you see them for who they really are, and dudes and dudettes, it is not a pretty sight! June 1st marks World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day - an internationally recognized event that raises awareness of narcissistic abuse as well as providing education and resources for survivors. WNAAD was established in 2016 and now occurs on 1st June every year. It may only be eight years old but WNAAD is a growing global movement and is committed to raising awareness, providing support and education, and aims to take steps towards a change in policy. One of the topics we felt so strongly about highlighting here at Peppermint Teal was awareness regarding emotional abuse or any form of toxic, abusive behavior that falls under this term. Having known so many people - and we do mean so many - who have had the misfortune to have encountered a narcissist/sociopath/psychopath and suffered the after-effects, we felt that we needed to bring this issue to the fore. So this post for our The Mask Slipped feature is to announce the Survivor Empowerment Telesummit 2024 on 1st June #IfMyWoundsWereVisible What is narcissistic abuse? Many people are still a little confused as to what exactly narcissistic abuse is. Peppermint Teal is dedicated to promoting awareness on this subject so there will be more information in other posts as well as real-life stories from survivors who have managed to rebuild their lives. But simply put it's a form of psychological and emotional abuse. Unlike physical abuse which leaves visible cuts, bruises and broken bones, victims of any kind of emotional abuse wear their wounds on the inside - mentally and emotionally, hence why WNAAD came up with the hashtag #IfMyWoundsWereVisible That's not to say that the abuse can't later become physical but many of the abusers are often too clever, too charming and too subtle for that. Many people suffering from narcissistic abuse don't even realise that what's happening to them is a legitimate form of abuse. Somewhere down the line they may realise that something doesn't feel right but can't quite explain what and why. Family and friends will notice that something's wrong but not know what it is or even how to help. For those of us who have endured narcissistic abuse, we know just how awful, confusing and scary it is. World Narcissist Abuse Awareness Day exists to highlight the problem and raise the profile of narcissistic abuse. Thankfully more people are becoming aware of this issue but there are still plenty more who have no idea as to what narcissist abuse is; what it involves; how to spot the signs; how to help someone who may be a victim, or how to escape such a situation if you are a victim yourself. Why is it necessary to raise awareness of narcissistic abuse? Narcissistic abuse is a problem that goes by undetected until it's usually too late - but the epidemic of narcissistic abuse is escalating. But sadly there isn't enough education, campaigning or funding to tackle this subject. According to the WNAAD website, studies indicate that between 1% and 6% of the population suffer from narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and that's just narcissists alone - this statistic does not include the other cluster B disorders. It is estimated that in a lifetime, each individual suffering from NPD will have relationships with approximately five partners, thus highlighting the enormity and grave impact of this abuse. But although we know the number of people affected by NPD is huge, it is difficult to calculate a near enough exact number. One thing that people often forget is that the narcissist isn't always a partner: it could be a parent, child, or other family member, friend, housemate, or colleague - in short, it could be anyone. Survivor Empowerment Telesummit 2024 The Survivor Empowerment Summit is a two day online summit, where speakers - mental health practitioners and leading experts on the issue - will be giving advice and sharing insights. Because the issue of narcissistic abuse is one that's very close to our hearts at Peppermint Teal, we're delighted that people are now talking about it and awareness is being raised because it gives the narcissist less place to hide and hopefully they'll never cause pain or mental anguish to another human being again. For those of you who are interested in the Survivor Empowerment Telesummit and wish to register you can do so at www.wnaad.com Images: Stated under image Banner: Angel Noire using images from Pixabay Word cloud: Angel Noire

Reading is such a fun, enjoyable and relaxing hobby. For many of us, just being in a place surrounded by books can make you feel happy, cosy and relaxed, be it a bookshop; a book fair, or your very own uniquely-created reading nooks. But when we think of a place with wall to wall books, the most obvious place that springs to mind is of course - the library! A place full of free books of all different genres with cosy chairs where we can sit and enjoy them? What's not to like! Many of us will have developed our love of books and libraries when we were tiny children just learning to read and our parents enrolled us at the local library. Then there was the school library where we could pick out books for our weekly read or get on with some homework. When we went to college, some of us practically lived at the campus library! Admittedly that wasn't so much for pleasure as much as the need to hurriedly get our assignments done. But for many of us, libraries have been a big part of our lives for a very long time. But as we get older and libraries become less of a necessity, many of us don't use libraries the way that we used to and it's such a shame. Libraries, sadly appear to be on the decline, and are receiving less funding due to government cutbacks. Therefore it's essential to use them while we still can in order to prove that libraries are a vital part of our community. True, libraries aren't solely about books like they once were. In fact these days many libraries only carry about half the amount of print books that they once did, as they gear themselves towards various other services. But libraries are still wonderful places to sit and read; check out new book titles, or catch up on work in peaceful surroundings. And for those of us who love books, actual books, there's no other place where we'd rather be. So here are ten reasons why libraries are awesome and why we should all be making the most of our local library, and ways in which we can do so. 1. SAVE SPACE, SAVE MONEY! For those of you who own and actually make proper use of your Kindle, you're already saving space and money! But for those of us who like to have an actual book in our hands while we're reading, we know just how much space a huge book collection can take up, especially for those of us who are living in more compact surroundings as many of us are having to do now. This way, you get to borrow books from the library and return them when you've finished before moving on to your next read - meaning that your bookshelves won't be groaning under the pressure of all that added weight! Furthermore, as it's free to borrow books from the library, you'll be able to read any and as many books as you wish and it won't cost you a penny - providing of course that you return the books on time and don't rack up any fines! 2. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! A library is a fantastic way to discover new authors and new genres, and basically acquaint yourself with the kind of literary works you might otherwise not have come across. But even with the type of reading material that you are normally quite familiar with, it's still possible to pick up a book that you are less than satisfied with. While book reviews give potential readers an idea of whether or not they will enjoy a book, the only definite way to know if we will enjoy a book or not is, surprise surprise, to read it! This is where libraries come to the rescue because you can of course read a book without spending a penny on it. If the book turns out to be a disappointment, you'll have lost nothing. But if you love it that much, you can go out and purchase your own copy - which is something us book lovers love to do! 3. THE ALL-IMPORTANT LIBRARY BOOK SALE! Most libraries have a section where you can regularly buy books that they no longer wish to loan out. The best one we've seen so far is at The Morse Institute in Natick Massachusetts. And in addition to this, every so often libraries have a massive book sale where they sell off a large number of old books to make space for newer titles. You can buy these books at bargain prices, in many cases much lower than your local charity shop or thrift store with the possibility of setting up your own second-hand bookshop - if you wish to do so! We are all aware of why it's important to cut down on waste and reuse whatever we can, so these book sales are a great idea. Plus with books facing extinction, it's a great opportunity to rescue as many books as possible and give them a new home. Though going back to point number one, your bookshelves may not thank you for it! 4. MAGAZINES GALORE Another thing facing extinction are of course newspapers and magazines - and with the prices of these, it's hardly a surprise! True many publications have moved online but with many of us old-schoolers, nothing beats having the actual copy in our hands. Again this is where libraries come in handy, as many now carry an astounding number of magazine titles - probably more so than most stationers and newsagents nowadays, once again saving you space and money. The Morse Institute in Natick, and Millis Public Library both in Massachusetts, are two libraries we've come across that holds an impressive number of titles, and The Morse Institute in particular has a delightful reading room for readers to enjoy them in. Hopefully your own local library is equally, or at least almost, as good. 5. WORK SPACE As anyone who lives in a town or city will know, such locations have something of a coffee-shop culture, and the humble coffee shop has become something of an office for many people these days. Entrepreneurs, budding authors or just anyone who wants to escape the office and can work remotely can all be found setting up shop at a table at a café or coffee shop. J.K. Rowling started out writing the Harry Potter books over cups of tea at The Elephant Room in Edinburgh after all! But we've always found libraries to be much more suitable places to work and study in. Quiet, peaceful surroundings with books galore, computers and all sorts of other office equipment and services... what more could you want? Furthermore a lot of libraries now have private rooms and areas where you can hold conversations which is ideal for taking those all important phone calls! 6. WORK OR VOLUNTEER Libraries are also places that can provide employment or volunteering opportunities. If you enjoy working with people and love being surrounded by books all day, what better place could there be to work than in a library? Admittedly it can be hard to get into library work but you can always start out by volunteering. Ask at your local library if there are any voluntary positions available. And you can go to the library's or local council's website to see if there are are job posts available. 7. BOOK CLUB What? A library? Holding book club meetings? Well I never! OK, so it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that your local library might have it's own reading groups (kind of goes with the territory!) Book clubs are a great way to ensure consistent reading, and you get to talk about the novel you've just finished with a group of likeminded people. So it's also a great way to socialise and who knows - you might even make a new friend or two! If this sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, then it 's a good idea to check to see if your library has such groups, and if they don't - why don't you think about starting your own? Maybe even geared towards the kind of books you enjoy reading. Ask your friendly librarian about how to go about creating your own reading group at the library. 8. ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION Libraries offer a range of services these days. It's not all about books, you know! Although if you ask us books are always the best part of any library! But if you need help writing up your CV and cover letters or need business advice, you can book a session with a mentor who will come in to the library at specific times in order to assist those who need their help. Local MPs have even been known to occasionally set up shop in libraries in order to give help and advice to the locals. And then there are classes that teach you practical skills such as basic computing, numeracy and literacy, all free of charge. See what educational services and assistance your library offers to the public. 9. FUN ACTIVITIES Libraries in more recent times, really have become a cultural and social hub of the community and not just a place to borrow books. You can learn languages; do arts and crafts classes; attend the book or film clubs, and there are often special events for children. Then there are events with authors, poets and other guest speakers. Most of these activities and events are completely free of charge. One of our favourite libraries is Redbridge Central Library and Museum in Ilford, just on the outskirts of London, England. Apart from the fantastic array of books in this very spacious library, the top floor is dedicated to a local history museum which showcases a different exhibit every month. And there's also a delightful little café situated on the ground floor just as you enter the library that serves up a delicious and relatively inexpensive iced coffee or hot brew. 10. COSY VIBES Most libraries are delightful, cosy places where you can take some time out for yourself; reading a good novel, or quietly getting on with some work or study. The library might not be everyone's idea of the place to be, but if you're someone who enjoys quiet time and cosy vibes, then the library might just be for you. You can even bring a non-messy craft project (knitting, embroidery etc.) or get out your tablet and earbuds and watch a movie while being surrounded by books. Sounds like bliss to us! Blog graphics: Angel Noire