Summer will soon be upon us, but before you head to the beach…or even just the beer garden, give your skin a boost with the avocado Dubbed the fruit of life, the avocado contains a myriad of nutrients that can help improve skin elasticity, firmness, and hydration, as well combatting signs of ageing and offering a level of protection from the sun. We can reap the bountiful benefits both by not only eating avocados on a regular basis but also by applying avocado masks directly onto the skin. Here are some of the top avocado nutrients for your skin (and the science behind them): Good fats for fir ..read more

Things I wish I’d known before I dialled 999 By Emily Mckenzie I was in an abusive relationship. My mum knew it. My friends knew it. My neighbours knew it. My sweet and timid housemate endured countless sleepless nights listening to it. And deep down, I knew it too. In the space of just a year, the man I loved had raped me, cheated on me, threatened me, tried to kill himself in front of me, damaged furniture in fits of rage, and destroyed things that had sentimental value to me. But part of me was holding on to that one last sliver of hope that actually, he was right – this was all my faul ..read more

A Day In The Life Of A GP By Dr Hannah Missen Dr Hannah Missen is a mummy to Primrose & Ted, and a general practitioner (GP) with a previous background in obstetrics and gynaecology. She has particular interests in research and academia, medical ethics and law, and women’s health. Find her on Twitter @DrMissen Being a General Practitioner is a huge privilege. We get a glimpse into the lives of our patients on a day-to-day basis, trusted with the most personal information and confidence. We see people at their happiest times, and their lowest moments, sharing with them their joy and so ..read more

All I Want For Christmas Christmas Gift Ideas, for every person and every budget, even the people in your life that are really hard to buy for. We have rounded up the best gifts that will put a smile on a special person’s face this coming Christmas morning. • 1. Organic Intimate Care, £44.48, www.lipintimatecare.com • 2. Pour Moi Dressing Gown, £39, www.pourmoi.co.uk • 3. Kerastase Genesis Gift Set, £70.00, thestyleloungelichfield.com • 4. Psychic Sisters Wish crystal set, £12.00, selfridges.com • 5. Silver heart pendant on 16” – 18.” Adjustable chain, £112.00, allenbrownjewellery.co.uk • 6 ..read more

Stammering By Steven Halliday www.stamma.org Stammering. There’s so much people get wrong about it. It’s not about nerves and it’s not a sign that someone’s less intelligent, incompetent or a bit odd. Firstly, what do we mean by stammering? When you think about someone who stammers, you might be picturing Gareth Gates or Porky Pig, repeating sounds over and over. But it also includes other types of speech dysfluency such as silent blocks (where sounds get stuck) or prolongations (stretching out sounds in words). For most people, stammering starts in childhood. Around 8% of children will stam ..read more

The effects of the cost of living on our Mental Health By Sheila McMahon www.mindmanagementforyou.com Mental health Counsellor and CEO of Mind Management For You, Sheila McMahon, reflects on the current cost of living crisis, the knock-on effects on our mental health, and what we can do about it. So, we have just been through a pandemic and we’re now facing huge rises and uncertainty around the cost of living. Yes, this can have detrimental effects on our mental health. So how do we keep sane? It can feel like we’re being bombarded with it from every angle and make us feel apprehensive and a ..read more

Festive Chic – Shop The Outfit By Lucy Eastment www.stylebylucy.com Top, Albaray £69 Trousers, Albaray £65 Necklace, Tomm Jewellery £45 Earrings, Fat Face £14 Boots, Oliver Bonas £110 Coat, F&F £45 Dress, M&CO £54 Necklace, Fat Face £54 Earings, Fat Face £12 Blazer, Marks and Spencer £69 Slippers, Moshulu £35 Bra, Pour Moi £30  Briefs, Pour Moi £14 Jumper, New Look £29.99 Hat, Lost Isle Project £35 Coat, Albaray £189 Padded scarf, National Trust £20 Earrings, Bryony Bel £32 Trousers, M&CO £39.50 Boots, Primark £23 Jumpsuit, River Island £75 Coat, River Isl ..read more

Let the FESTIVITIES begin By Susan Leigh www.lifestyletherapy.net   The run-up to Christmas and all its festivities seems to begin earlier each year. We can gradually see its message of love and family celebration being lost under the deluge of gift wish lists and the desire to please everyone. In the USA more people go home for Thanksgiving than for Christmas, and yet not one gift is exchanged. The day is all about sharing a meal with family, reconnecting and spending time together. Here are some ways to manage the stress of Christmas and make for a happier family time. Present ..read more

Is Your Makeup Bag Winter Ready? By Holly Paige www.makeupbyhollypaige.com Summer is slowly coming to an end with evenings becoming darker, temperatures dropping and skin tones tending to lighten. But are you ready for it? “Winterizing” your beauty routine is a must and here are my top five tips for getting your makeup bag ready for the new season ahead. 1. HYDRATED PLUMPED SKIN In winter our skin tends to become more dry, cracked and very sensitive due to low humidity levels. The low humidity draws moisture out of our skin causing it to need more maintenance and love to be put back in. Al ..read more

The Blame Game By Wendy Capewell www.wendycapewell.co.uk When couples come to me for help with their relationship, they have often got into a run of negative fixed patterns of behaviours and ways of relating to each other. However hard they try, they don’t know how to get off the hamster wheel. Arguments are frequent, often over the same seemingly petty issues. But they never get resolved. There is one common denominator – they start by playing the blame game. They tell me the problems are due to their partner’s failings. ●He’s always late ●I have to do the lion’s share of the chores ●She do ..read more