Happy Monday. 

I hope you've had a good couple of weeks.  It's still a time of adjusting to the end of summer and easing back into term time rhythms.  It's always a little bumpy, I expect it is for you too - especially if you have young ones getting used to a new school or stepping into the next stage of life. 

Today's newsletter, your Monday moment of pause, will be light and morsel-like.  Little nods to interesting news with more to follow in future weeks.  Go gently this week x

Be brave, slow down, let go

I like that!  We start the new school year with the sadness of summer ending.  It feels like such an impactful month but is often disappointing and emotions ride high.  In all honesty, I think we all start September feeling exhausted.  Summer is lovely but we do to much, eat too much and probably don't sleep enough.  Don't try and hit full throttle just yet, gently cruise along this month - maybe even pull over and park up if you need to!  

Do you have camping gear you don't need?

We had a fabulous time camping at Greenbelt (we welcomed the rainy days over searingly hot ones).  The tents, sleeping bags and camping chairs are now tucked away in the loft for another year.  Part of our festival prep involved realising that one of our little tents was no longer needed and that we had a spare sleeping bag.  I donated them to Hash at Gloucester Feed the Hungry.  Hash ensure's people who are homeless can get a hot meal every day and he told me he's asked 3-4 times a week if he has a tent someone can use rather than sleeping rough on the street.  If you're having a sort out at home and have any camping gear you don't use please consider taking it to Hash to pass on.  Hash can be found at the Smiles Cafe, 18 The Oxebode, GL1 1RZ Tuesday to Saturday 9am - 3pm.  

So excited I could pop ...

I will definitely have lots more to say about this over the coming weeks but for now... two organisations that are dear to my heart, Weleda and Maggies, are coming together to support people on their cancer journey.  This beautiful reel shared by Maggies on Instagram gives a little peep into a special day spent in the Weleda gardens learning about the plants used to make our wonderful products in order to ease symptoms for someone going through cancer.

Weleda have created a Maggies wellbeing bundle containing 4 products to support symptoms of stress, pain, poor sleep, dry skin and mouth ulcers/infection.  When a bundle containing Arnica muscle soak, Lavender massage oil, Skin Food moisturiser and Ratanhia mouth wash is bought through my webshop Weleda will donate £10 to Maggies (the usual retail price on the 4 products individually would be £63.90, you will pay £45, so it's a great saving for anyone who already loves and uses these items). 

This is going to be so wonderful for those receiving this bundle and a brilliant fundraiser for Maggies Centres.  I am going up to Weleda this weekend for training and I'm sure I will hear more about this fabulous collaboration.  Watch this space for more details x

Free LOVE or RELAX for referring your friends 

It's been wonderful to see people for massage over the summer holiday.  When life is really busy, that is exactly the time we need to make sure there's something in the diary that nourishes you.  I'm seeing the benefit to both physical and mental health when someone makes a regular commitment to rest and recharge with a soothing aromatherapy massage. 

I am so grateful for all the reviews and recommendations i receive so this month I would like to say thank you with a shower wash gift to anyone who refers a friend to me for a massage.  When your friend calls me tell them to mention your name and I will order a Relax or Love shower wash for you with thanks and gratitude.  Just think if you refer lots of people you could get your Christmas shopping started for free!

Now that I've mentioned Christmas, if you do like to get ahead on spreading the cost you can save 10% off full price items by using the code SEPT10 in my webshop.  For orders over £60 you will receive a Skin Food Hand wash thank you.  If you spend over £80 you'll also receive a Skin Food hand lotion.  Our Christmas collection will be launched on 1st October and I expect I will also hear about that when I go up to Weleda on Friday. 

This week's heart smile ...

We had a very special weekend with my older brother over from Germany with his girlfriend and her two daughters (visiting England for the first time).  My younger brother joined us all on Saturday with his family.  We had fun bowling, playing pool and table tennis and then went for a family meal.  The 6 kids all got on really well and Luca observed how nice it was to have extra cousins!  I have some lovely photographic momentos but must admit I'm getting more and more cautious about what pictures I share of the kids online.  I don't think my brother would mind me sharing him in full strike making action instead!

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead x