We all dream of amazing, flawless and glowing skin!  But how do we achieve that and what is the best skincare routine, what anti-ageing treatments are worthwhile and how do we fight through the seemingly endless skincare advice and thousands of products now available, to find the best skincare solution for us?

I am really enjoying my collaboration with Emma at the ERA Skin & Laser Clinic in Thame. Emma is passionate about sharing good skincare advice and educating women like us on the best way to look after our skin and how to choose the right treatments. 

We all know the basics - drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, cleanse and moisturise every day but what about all the extras?  Do we even understand what all the creams, serums and facials can do for us or do you just buy willy nilly because you saw it on Instagram?  Emma and I started chatting towards the end of all the lockdowns and one thing she had noticed was the rise in enquiries due to the amount of time we have all spent looking at ourselves on Zoom calls and not liking our skin!

I got together with Emma and Paige from ERA a couple of weeks ago for a chat on an Instagram Live - we chatted about HydraFacials and skincare and on this blog post I am sharing their tips in more detail ...  you can watch our live chat on my IGTV.

Do you go through different phases of breakfast choice?  I go months having the same thing for breakfast then move onto something new!  Past favourites have included overnight oats, granola or muesli and natural yoghurt or egg based like poached egg and crushed avocado on toast.  But one that I keep coming back to is a healthy smoothie.  I can pack in so many good ingredients and extra supplements, it is quick and easy and surprisingly satisfying and a healthy smoothie is good at keeping me full until lunchtime.

Here are a few of my favourite healthy smoothie ingredients to really make your morning smoothie pack a nutritious punch!

Is it possible to find affordable interior design?  And is it worthwhile hiring an interior designer?  I am not blessed with a natural ability to pull together cohesive looks for my home, I love scrolling Instagram and Pinterest and I dream of the most amazing magazine inspired interiors.  But reality is a bit different, interior design looks easy but it really isn't, for me anyway!  Plus there is the little matter of getting my husband to agree - forever practical. he doesn't quite understand my need for all the extra 'faffy' bits!

I have a beautiful home, my cottage in the woods, we have lived here for coming up 30 years now!  It was a renovation project and we originally intended to move on but we fell in love with it and have stayed.  I think my cottage deserves some extra TLC now that the children have grown up and flown the nest.  And it was very much on my radar especially over lockdowns with a new emphasis on DIY projects in the UK.  My husband built a wood store and painted the outside of the house, not my idea of fun!

Then Charlotte got in touch with me.  Charlotte has recently set up her own interior design business Minshell Designs and works alongside her husband who is a property developer.  Charlotte asked if I might consider writing a blog post about interior design, we got chatting and I said well why not help me and I can document the process on my blog! 

Minshell Designs is based in Buckinghamshire and works across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, the Home Counties and Greater London.  They  offer a complete design service from property development, design and build, project management, interior design and full interior fit out. 

Below.  'before' my conservatory and dining area and initial design ideas from Minshell Designs

I should own up to not being a make up junkie, never really frequenting the make up counters or buying loads of make up products!  Now obviously if there was an award for shopping too much or owning too many pairs of jeans, boots or scarves then I would be a serious contender but make up I have always preferred to keep simple!  From my firm favourite Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation to my new find, the CODE VLM Mascara from Code Beautiful, see what make up I recommend!

I did actually think I might try a video demo but realised it's just not my thing!  But I can write and for this post I share a little round-up of my best make up buys and a few make up tips I have picked up along the way.

Some of the make up products have been gifted to me but I am only including those I love and have won a place in my daily routine.  Let me know what you think, do you keep to a simple, natural  make up routine or do you like experimenting with lots of products? And from loads of different brands?