Wedding Tips for a Perfect Day

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With Prince Harry and Megan Markle set to sparkle as the say ‘I do’ in Windsor on 19 May, love is in the air.

While the Royal couple no doubt have an eye watering budget and a team of planners, stylists and photographers on hand to ensure this is an occasion the world will want to watch, not everyone has such an entourage to help plan their big day.

Fear not, we love a good wedding and have put together our top tips on planning the perfect day for you.

It’s all about the shoes
We know how important shoes are on your big day, but don’t make that the time to try them out for the first time. Once you have found the perfect pair, wear them in the house quite a bit so your feet are used to them and you don’t end up with blisters even before your first dance.

Find your tribe
Mums, aunts, sisters, brothers, friends, neighbours and work mates will all have special skills and if you ask them to give you a hand you will, in no time, have your very own wedding tribe. Not only will they help keep you grounded and relaxed, they will also want you to have a great day and be only too happy to do jobs to make things perfect.

Be kind to yourself
Shedding extra pounds is often front of mind with many brides, and grooms, but don’t make this an obsession because it could ruin your day. Make realistic goals but don’t hit the gym everyday or skip meals or you’ll be hungry and tired rather than glowing and healthy. Plan your meals, drink plenty of water and check your dress is altered before you wear it for real.

Watch that tan
If you didn’t have a hen party in Marbella to top up the tan, you might be tempted to fake it, but be careful with this one. Heavy spray tans, semi-permanent eyebrows and deep foundations might look good on Instagram brides, but if keep things natural and simple, your love with shine through, not the orange stripes on your shoulders.

Budget for everything
No one likes last-minute surprises so from the moment you get that sparkler on your finger, set your budget and stick to it. With social media sites, blogs and magazines offering inspiration and ideas, you can create something truly unique and memorable without remortgaging your home.

Remember the weather
You can plan most things, but there is no way to control Mother Nature. Keep an eye on the forecast in the lead up to the big day and prepare accordingly. If it is going to rain, organise extra umbrellas and towels for guests, and if you are looking at a heat wave, water and sun cream will be welcomed by the congregation.

Say cheese
When it comes to capturing the magic of your big day, the photos are so important so go for a professional. They don’t need to be the most expensive but check out their websites and portfolios, do a trial session and at the end of the day, it comes down to chemistry so follow your instincts at your first meeting.

Keep people happy
We know there can be family frictions and friend fallouts but this is your big day so manage those situations accordingly. Look at how best to put people together, who to keep apart and have someone keeping an eye on how much booze is being consumed, especially if it is a warm day.

Say thank you
Weddings are expensive for the guests as well as the bride and groom, so be sure to send out thank you cards so everyone knows how much they were appreciated.

Most of all, have fun, make memories and enjoy it because it will be over in a flash.

Team Beauty

It’s never too late to book a holiday

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adventure, airports, August, autumn, baggage, beach, budget, camping, cooking, cycling, Europe, extra, families, family, flights, food, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, foreign currency, friends, holiday, hotel, lakes, last minute break, meals, passports, prices, reserving, seats, Spa, staycation, town, two-week holiday, two-week summer holiday, UK, villa, yoga

 

It’s seems that the holiday season has already started.

Passports are being renewed.

Dog-sitters are being booked.

Bikinis are being chosen.

People are sharing their sunny snaps on social media.

However, if you are still undecided, do not worry, it’s never too late to book a summer break.

Whilst many people book up months, even years, ahead leaving things a later isn’t a disaster, you might just need to do a little more leg-work.

First things first, set dates. If you don’t want to get caught out by the biggest price hikes and busiest times, try to avoid going away during Whitsun half term week in May and the second half of August.

If you love it to be hot, going away in June might not give you the tan you want and if you have toddlers you might want to avoid the blazing sun in Greece in the middle of the summer.

Decide what kind of holiday you want to go on. Is it adventure, beach, spa, cycling, cooking, yoga or just sitting by the pool with a good book? Whatever it is, this is your time away so be sure you do what will make you happy.

Be aware of the world around you, this pretty key at the moment. If you are considering a country where there is political instability and terrorist threats, there may well be great deals but they might not be the best choice. Check details with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and take their advice.

Ask for recommendations. We can all look at glossy brochures and daydream over images on the Internet, but getting recommendations and feedback from family and friends about a hotel, town or villa could be more valuable than any online review.

Don’t forget Spain. If you’re looking for guaranteed sunshine, perfect sandy beaches and amazing food – Spain is a great choice. This country has destinations for everyone, and every budget. There are many flight options and the range of accommodation is as overwhelming as the welcome families receive.

Don’t be caught out by the promise of massive savings. Prices are changing all the time in response to demand making the original price of a holiday pretty meaningless.

What you do need to look at is what is actually included in the price you are quoted. To compare prices you need to factor in flights, meals, transfers and all the other elements of a holiday. You need to ensure you are comparing like with like. If there is a massive difference in prices, try to find out why – for example flights are included but baggage and reserving seats is extra.

Consider going for the all-inclusive option. These are perfect for families who want to know what they will be spending and are looking for excellent facilities, good food, sports as well as value for money.

If you like nature, how about camping? Camp sites across the UK and Europe offer a range of facilities and prices and this can be a fantastic way to take a last minute break that everyone will enjoy.

No one says you have to take the traditional two-week summer holiday. How about splitting up your time off? You could have a week by the Italian lakes early in the season before it gets too hot and busy, followed by a weekend at a holiday park and then a city break in the early autumn.

If all else fails, try a ‘staycation’. Without the stress of airports, passports, foreign currency and sun burn, you can still have a great, relaxing time at home with you and yours.

Whatever you do this summer, have fun.

Insomnia and what you can do about it

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alarm clock, alcohol, anxiety, black out blinds, caffeine, children, clean, comfortable, day, devices, ear plugs, essential oil, eye mask, GP, insomnia, irritable, lavender oil, life, lighting, long-term basis, meals, misery, mobile phone, paper, self-perpetuating, shift work, sleep, stress, thick curtains, tired, Tvs, warm drink, worries

Struggle to fall asleep night after night?

Wake up in the early hours and just can’t nod off again?

Simply don’t feel refreshed when you get up in the morning?

It could be that you are suffering from insomnia, which is thought to affect up to one in every three people in the UK at some point.

There are no official statistics to suggest how much sleep adults need because we are all different but the suggested average is between seven to nine hours. It can be detrimental to get caught up with numbers because the main thing is getting enough good quality sleep so that you don’t feel constantly tired throughout the day.

We all have the odd night of bad sleep, maybe when we are stressed, anxious or excited this doesn’t cause serious problems, but persistent insomnia can affect all aspects of your life, from your energy levels, appetite, mood and relationships.

Signs that you might have insomnia include:

• difficultly falling asleep
• waking up several times during the night
• lying awake for long periods at night
• waking up early in the early hours and not being able to go back to sleep
• not feel refreshed when you get up
• feeling constantly tired and irritable in the day and unable to concentrate

This can be caused by many factors, including stress and anxiety, an uncomfortable bed, a bedroom that’s too light, noisy, hot or cold. Lifestyle factors like shift work, jet lag, drinking alcohol or caffeine before going to bed can also play a part.

Mental and health physical conditions, as well as some medications, can also interfere with sleep on a long-term basis.

Whatever the cause, it can be frustrating but there are ways to deal with insomnia.

• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and large meals late in the evening.
• Just like with children, set a bedtime and stick to it and do the same with waking – even at the weekend.
• Relax before you go to bed and turn off all devices and TVs.
• Get an alarm clock rather than using your mobile phone to wake you up as having it on can distract you.
• Have a relaxing, warm bath before bed and add lavender oil to the water as this essential oil can aid sleep.
• Make sure your bedroom is comfortable, clean and the temperature is set correctly.
• Use thick curtains or black out blinds in your bedroom so that the least amount of sunlight is let in.
• Try an eye mask or ear plugs if you get woken often by noise.
• You might be tired but try not to sleep in the day.
• Write a list of worries, if you have any, so they are down on paper and not in your head. Look at areas in your life that are bothering you and getting you down and maybe find ways to deal with them.
• If you really cannot sleep, get up, have a warm drink in low lighting.
• We know we make it sound easy but try to relax and don’t get stressed about not sleeping as this becomes a self-perpetuating cycle of misery.

If things don’t settle down, go to see your GP who will try to help identify and treat any underlying health condition, such as anxiety, that may be causing your sleep problems and then look at other changes that can be made.

Sweet dreams.

There’s more to turkey than sandwiches

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almonds, carrots, Christmas, curry, drink, eat, eating, food, garlic, healthy, meals, noodles, olive oil, powder, seasonal, sesame, soy sauce, stir-fry, stock, tangine, turkey, wok

Once the roast dinner is done with, most people are left with mounds of turkey waiting to be made into sandwiches thick with mayo and mustard.

The thing is, if you only do this with your leftovers you are missing out on a healthy trick and some tasty treats. Turkey is a delicious, lean meat that is low in fat and an excellent source of protein, so don’t let it go to waste.

We have some easy recipes to help you make the most of that left over turkey you can enjoy with friends during the festive season.

Turkey Tangine

This is a delicious meal that is perfect for enjoying with family and friends between Christmas and New Year.

You will need
300g leftover turkey cut into chunks
1 teaspoon of olive oil
1 sliced onion
3 carrots
2 crushed cloves of garlic
500 ml of turkey stock
150ml of water
1 can of tomatoes (400g)
1 can of chickpeas (400g)
140g of dried apricots and prunes, roughly chopped
Clear honey
½ bunch coriander, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon flaked almonds

What to do:

Heat the oil in a pan and cook the onion under a gentle heat for about eight minutes or until they are soft.
Add the carrots and parsnips and then cook until they start to soften and go brown.
Stir in the garlic and cook for a further minute.
Add the stock, tomatoes, chickpeas, dried fruit and 150ml water.
Season, bring to a simmer and cook for 25-30 mins until the vegetables are tender.
Add the turkey and simmer for at least minutes to warm through.
Stir in the honey then add the coriander and almonds just before serving with couscous and a little Greek yogurt.

Turkey Noodles
Whilst curry is the traditional meal to make with leftover turkey, this fresh stir fry is a super-healthy alternative that the whole family will enjoy. Packed with low-fat, high protein meat and tasty vegetables this stir-fry brings the dish bang up to date.

You will need:

200g rice noodles
2 teaspoons sesame oil
250g of turkey cut into strips
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 cloves of garlic
A thumb sized piece of ginger
1 red chilli that will need to be chopped
2 red peppers that are deseeded and sliced thinly
Left over Christmas vegetables such as peas, shredded carrots and cabbage (maybe leave the sprouts out)
200g beansprouts
1 bunch of spring onions
3 tablespoons of curry powder or paste
1 teaspoon of turmeric
2 large tablespoons of soy sauce plus extra for serving

What to do:

Soak the noodles in boiling water until soft, then drain and toss in a teaspoon of sesame oil in a warm wok for an authentic, delicious flavour.
Place the wok back on the heat with the rest of the oil and gently but quickly fry the garlic, ginger and chilli together.
Add all the vegetables to the wok and fry for a minute before adding the turkey.
Put the noodles plus curry powder, turmeric and soy sauce and cook everything together for a couple of minutes, being careful not to burn, and then stir through the noodles.
Serve with coriander, sliced chilli and extra soy sauce and maybe have a glass of water handy.

Of course you can make salads and soups, curries and hot pots but whatever you do, enjoy your turkey and remember it isn’t just for Christmas.