Happy Monday.  Time to pause.  Breathe.  Consider how you'd like your day to be.  I really believe in the power of creating your day.  The thoughts we have as we first wake and the choices we make through the day have the power to make us feel positive, motivated and content or demotivated, glum and sad.  

After a very busy festival weekend I am very ready for an indoor day.  My steps are accumulating today going up and down the stairs (including the loft ladder) to clear out stuff we don't need.  It's dusty work but it's definitely feeling good releasing emotional attachments to things long forgotten.  There are some things being dusted off, explored and then put back but that's the beauty of a thorough declutter.  it doesn't have to be a brutal cull of everything but a simple decision with each item as to whether you love it or purposeful in your life.  Many 'Nope, not anymore' head shakes are happening today.  Does that count as exercise thrown in for free as well?

Decluttering to support your nervous system

I've been tagging posts about decluttering for as long as I've been writing this newsletter.  Helpful snippets to help me take a step closer to actually starting!  I love simple hacks like ''Just remove one item a day''.  I embrace Maria Kondo's question ''Does it spark joy?' when I appraise whether to keep something or not (and appreciate i'm quite liberal with my Yes's even though I should be adding ''that doesn't mean it has to live here''). 

So in case you struggle with this too I thought I'd share some wise words from Catherine @theschoolofminimalism who I follow on Instagram.  It's making the connection between clutter and mental health that has really helped me to start releasing things that don't serve me.  I get overwhelmed when the house is a mess and then don't know where to start.  2 minute timers and focusing on just one drawer/surface/bag so I have some sense of achievement has been the biggest game changer!

''Your home is either calming your nervous system or keeping it on edge.  You see clutter isn't just visual, it's physiological.  A cluttered home doesn't just look chaotic, it feels chaotic.  Simplifying isn't just about aesthetics, it's about creating a life your nervous system can actually rest inside.  If you come home to chaos and clutter your body never fully rests. Complete a task that's well overdue and and feel your body rest deeper. Organise your finances so you at least know everything will be paid on time and watch your energy improve'' - Catherine, The School of Minimalism

I don’t need more storage.
I don’t need a free weekend.
I need to stop hesitating!

Catherine says 'Your house feels chaotic because it’s full of delayed decisions''. She's absolutely right.

Weleda elixirs to boost wellbeing

Inspired by the power of plants and rooted in a long tradition of botanical wellbeing Weleda's 3 elixirs are a little known secret for recovering vitality after periods of stress or supporting the body to detox and cleanse.  Weleda have created a wonderful recipe book for adding the elixirs to refreshing cold drinks or fortifying warm drinks (download recipes here).

During August the elixirs are £10 per bottle instead of the usual price of £15.50 so it's a great time to try them.  You can also take elixirs straight from the spoon or drizzle on yoghurt or desserts. To read more about each product click the title link below.  If you'd like to order anything send me a message or go directly to my webshop.  Be sure to use code AUGUST10 for 10% off full price items.

Seabuckthorn Elixir - Made from vibrant sea buckthorn berries, naturally rich in vitamin C and valued for their bright, citrus-like character.  Tangy, fruity and refreshing

Birch Juice - Crafted from young birch leaf extract, traditionally enjoyed as part of seasonal wellbeing (great to support an Autumn or Spring detox). Its fresh, herbal taste makes it wonderfully versatile.  Clean, herbal and lightly earthy.

Prunus Elixir - Made from wild-grown Prunus Spinosa (blackthorn or sloe) berries. Rich, fruity and deeply coloured, it has a distinctive flavour that lends itself to both sweet and savoury recipes. Rich, fruity with gentle tartness

Festival season is here!

We were lucky enough to be given guest tickets to Lakefest this weekend by our friend Sam.  The festival is located in the beautiful fields of Eastnor Castle which is just 30 minutes from Gloucester.  We enjoyed feeling like we were going to a gig every evening but returning to our own beds every night (much better than camping in the heat!)

The boys love live music and had a lot of fun listening to Example, Madness, Newton Faulkner and the Lightning Seeds.  They're favourite of course was our friend Sam's band Dub Catalyst.  Such feel good reggae you just have to bounce around.  Tens of thousands of steps each day testimony to their toe tapping!

Do you have a favourite festival you enjoy hanging out at?  

ps.  I loved that I bumped into a work colleague from 15 years ago.  I was bending down sorting out the bags when she tapped me on the shoulder to say Hi.  Another second or two and we could have missed each other but she recognised Euan and his epic hair!  I'm not on Facebook anymore but I've shared enough pictures of the boys for people we don't see to feel they know our little family.  And I was so grateful for that for creating the opportunity to reconnect.  

This week's heart smile ...

Still thinking of our lovely week in the Isle of Wight (smiling banish the sighs and the sea miss!).   It was wonderful meeting up with the family we met last year (hoorah for Luca and his befriending skills).  It was so relaxing for the kids to be off playing, with fluid and easy going movements between families and bungalows. 

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead sprinkled with many moments of love, connection and smiles x