Gone in a Puff of Smoke

I turned 38 last week.  Although I have luckily inherited my mum's genes and tend to look younger than I am (except first thing in the morning when I look 70 haha), I am more conscious as I get older than I need to take better care of my skin and my health.

The grey hairs that start to appear, quickly vanished by the hair dye.  That wrinkle under your eye that appeared overnight that you pray will disappear when you wake up properly.  Not having as much energy.  Slowly and surely, they all start to come into play.  The sands of time never stop moving.

There are of course ways that you can role back some of those effects.  One of them is taking better care of your skin, not relying on face wipes (I know, I know) and pale soap and water instead of a regular cleanse, tone and moisturiser routine.  When you treat skin well, it repays you.  I can practically hear it saying thank you when I apply my Clinique moisturiser.

Another way to keep your skin and hair looking as youthful as you can is by watching what you are putting into your body.  In this case, it is the toxins of cigarettes.

Turning 38 is only two years away from being 40.  An age where I never thought that I would still smoke.  Having quit for two years before, I know that I can do it.  I remember the benefits gained from quitting smoking that was not just my bank balance.

Food was tastier.  A fresher complexion.  My hair looked shinier.  I woke up earlier and felt like I had so much more energy.

So this week, I am going to bite the bullet again.  

Last time I used the cold turkey method but my life is different now.  I am pulled in many different directions and have many more things that want my time and my attention.  I do not have the energy to commit to the hell of cold turkey.  This needs to be a slower process.

So this time, I am going to go down the vaping route. 

As I have an upcoming holiday, I thought it wise to check out whether vaping is allowed in the two countries that I can going to this year.  This guide to vaping and travelling has proved very helpful and I urge follow vape travellers to check it out.

Mother's Day Gift Guide

With Mother's Day around the corner on the 26th March, now is the time that I start to think about what I want to buy my lovely mum.

I try as much as possible not to be predictable when it comes to gifts for my mum.  She always tries so hard each year for my birthday and Christmas to come up with a surprise that it is only fair that I reciprocate.  

Whilst I will be buying my mum a Pandora charm for her bracelet (which by the way I think are a total waste of money, as you are just buying for the name, not for the quality), I want to find a little something different that she was not expecting.  I do not care how much money I spend on my mum, as long as she loves it, that is the only factor.

Here is what I have found:

A Weekend Bag from MooJoeGifts

This bag is an absolute steal at £12.50.  My idea would be to put another gift inside, perhaps a restaurant booking for the two of you for somewhere amazing or perhaps a weekend away.

A Family Tree £14.99

My mum, like all mums, is all about her family.  I think that this is a lovely gift to give and would look lovely in a bedroom setting where she can look at the photographs every day.

The Book of Everyone £29.95 (Hardback version)

This book is personalised to the year of birth and is so easy to do.  You are able to personalise most pages and include images.

Finally, the most important gift of all, your time.  

Calling just to say hello and have a chat, not because you feel obliged, but because you want to.  A mother daughter day out with a lovely lunch, a glass of wine (or four) and a lazy afternoon of chatting and catching up.  A mother and son afternoon tea or perhaps a wander around an art exhibit or museum.  Something that she will enjoy.  Although spending time with you will be the best part.

We only get one mum, lets make her feel special.

Stretch it Out!

For years now I have had problems with my lower back.  It is a hereditary trait, passed down from generations of my family (thanks fam!).  The only thing that really helps it is stretching as much as I possibly can.

I have tried various different techniques over the years, but nothing seems to properly suit my needs. The problem seems to be that either I don't have the space at home to have the proper equipment or it costs too much to buy.

Ideally, what I want is something that I can use at home that can be easily stored away and also something that will work with the limited space I have to be able to carry out the stretching manoeuvres.

This search has led me to looking at foam rollers which work with both my space constraints and also my budget.  I found some tips for how to use them effectively whilst in the home that I have shared with you below.

6 of the best stretches for women using a foam roller

Foam rolling is a great way to stretch and release tension and knots in your muscles. It’s inexpensive and can be done right at your own home. You can foam roll while enjoying your favorite TV series or before you go to sleep. If you haven’t yet given it a try, it’s time to go and get yourself a roller and experience its benefits.

For those who already have a workout regimen and would like to incorporate foam rolling, you definitely can. Foam rolling can be done before your workout as part of your warm-up or after, during cool down. With foam rolling, you are helping your muscles to recover faster and be more flexible. And when your muscles function properly, you are able to deliver quality performance in your training. Stretching exercises can also be done using a foam roller. Slowly foam roll each target area, taking at least one minute up to ten minutes per spot. Here are some of the best stretches for women using a foam roller.

Back
Lie down on the floor with the foam roller on your lower back. Place your feet flat on the ground and use your arms to support your upper body. To move the roller up your back, bend your knees and slowly move your arms outward. Move the roller just below your shoulder blades and then roll it back to its starting position and repeat.

Calves
Sit on the floor and straighten out your legs.  Place your hands on the floor behind you to support your weight as you roll. With the roller under your calves, slowly roll it along the back of your legs up to your ankles and then back up to your knees.

Hamstrings
Sit down on the floor. Starting with your right leg on the roller, cross your left leg over your right. Use your arms and hands to support you as you roll up and down along your hamstring. Do the same for your left leg.

Quads
Your quads are the upper thigh area of your leg. To foam roll this area, lie facing down on the floor with the roller under your hips. Use your arms and hands to support you. Cross the lower part of your left leg over your right. Roll down until your knees and then roll back up again to your hips. Switch legs later on.

IT Band
The IT band is the area on your outer thigh. Lie down on your side and place the roller under your hip. If you’re lying down on your left side, use your left arm to support you and place your right hand on the floor in front of you. Cross your right leg over your left and use this to support your roll. Roll up and down your outer thigh, which is from your hip up to your knee. Do the same for the other thigh.

Glutes, or the butt!
Sit on the roller and have your arms and hands support you. Place your right leg on your left knee and then roll the butt cheek back and forth. Switch sides to roll the other but cheek.