Time to Talk Day 2022 is on Thursday 3rd February and I think this year, talking is even more important, after two years of pandemic related uncertainty.  None of us are where we thought we'd be this time last year and we are all struggling.  Sadness and feeling sad have become a day to day occurrence and we all need a boost.  I was absolutely convinced that the vaccines would have allowed a return to normal life by now - and I don't mean a new normal, I mean I really hoped and believed that life would be back to how it was back in January 2020.  Nearly there though and it is time to fight back!

​Being someone who is a natural chatterbox I find it easy to talk and I also like to listen and help others.  But not everyone is like me and sometimes talking about our problems can feel impossible.  But a problem shared, really is a problem halved. 

I realised during the last two years how much I missed the casual interactions with my friends.  I love time at home and I enjoy solitude but I also know I need a balance of being with people too.  Day after day spent at home alone are not good for my mental health.  And as you know I am not a keen supporter of the WFH (Work from Home) trend - post-pandemic I think offices should reopen, especially for the younger generation.  They need the mentoring and social support, we all do.  And the economy needs city centres to be busy again!

It is no secret that I love to wear red and at this time of year it is a great way to boost our confidence, find some positivity and inject colour into the long, grey winter months! So for this blog post I am enthusing about the power of red dresses for the colder months, sharing the benefits of wearing red and to give you some style tips for (midaxi) maxi or midi dresses for the cold weather! A red dress is such a versatile piece and the one I am wearing here is new this season from Mint Velvet. It is a long sleeve maxi dress but on really cold days I will be adding an extra thermal layer with long sleeves and thermal tights to make sure I benefit from the extra warmth! 

Did you know there is even a Wear Red Day, whilst researching my post, II found out that Friday 4th February 2022 is the 10th Anniversary of Wear Red Day in the UK which is an initiative set up by the Children's Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) to raise awareness of congenital heart disease and much needed funds for the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.

People that wear red - as well as it being a very stylish look - rated themselves higher in attractiveness and sexual appeal than people wearing blue!

The colour red is known to represent confidence, passion, love, power and anger! I certainly agree that wearing red dress outfits gives me confidence and I think a red dress should be a staple of our winter wardrobe.

The Zone Face Lift has been developed from a combination of traditional facial reflexology methods and ancient healing techniques from Native American shamans and uses pressure point massage, Asian body mapping and healing herbs. And it is being hailed as a really credible alternative to botox in ecstatic press coverage. The Sunday Express called it 'a spiritual facial treatment ... unlike any other' and Sarah Vine, a leading beauty journalist with the Daily Mail described it as 'a contender for London's best facial treatment.' And the Zone Face Lift treatment has now come to Buckinghamshire. From her home therapy studio, Susanne has created the most tranquil sanctuary, giving you a warm welcome and an opportunity to relax, switch off and enjoy a decadent facial tailored for your particular skin needs.

Susanne who runs Susanne Aram Therapy from her home on the outskirts of Bourne End in Buckinghamshire, invited me to come along and try out this natural alternative to botox, The Zone Face Lift, and I loved it! Easy private parking, a pretty cottage and a comfortable and cosy therapy studio, Susanne extends her Germanic hospitality to make you feel relaxed as soon as you arrive.

"My emphasis is on treating holistically and every treatment is bespoke, tailored to my clients individual requirements to achieve the best possible outcome for them. My work concentrates on supporting my female clients with a healthy and holistic skincare routine, and complementary treatments in massage and reflexology offering a fusion of bespoke treatments to achieve the best possible outcome.'

I was recently interviewed by Dalya at A Fine Balance: The Podcast discussing my choice to be a stay-at-home mum (SAHM) but I've struggled to find the right words to start this blog post about it!  I want to share my story and my experience of deciding to give up work 24 years ago to be a full time SAHM, something I am extremely proud of and a decision I have never once regretted.  So why do I find it hard to write about?  

Being a SAHM was just something I knew was right for me and my family and I just quietly got on with.  I didn't know any different and it felt like the most natural thing in the world.  But I worry that whatever I say might be seen as being judgemental of others choices, even  though I haver never been judged!  Maybe just going publish feels brave!

I've never hidden my decision to be a SAHM, and among family and friends, I talk openly about it.  Anyone that knows me knows how nurturing and caring I am and that family came first but that I also kept very busy with lots of other projects - volunteering at nursery school and school, setting up and running all the admin for my husbands business (a paid role from home during school hours), overseeing the care and fighting a fair few battles for my late brother-in-law who had Downs Syndrome, and of course in more recent years setting up my blog.