Crazy Weather and Decluttering!!

Hi everyone!! What a crazy couple of months!!

Its been hectic here and  the weather has definitely been hectic too.

We've had snow, sleet, snow, hail, snow, rain and did I mention SNOW!! lol. The kiddies loved the snow, me not so much.
Don't get me wrong, I don't hate snow... I just hate the feeling of falling in the snow.  My old ankle injuries make it quite difficult to walk in the snow and with snow comes ice which is even worse. I literally walk at a pace slower than a tortoise, I can get quite anxious and had a semi panic attack/melt down on the school pick up run.
I was dreading the next school run but remembered some WinterTrax I bought a few years back.
I had been decluttering before Christmas and came across them so tried to retrace my footsteps ('scuse the pun😝) I found them, put them on my boots and wow!! what a difference they made. I actually got to the school in the same amount of time as usual (the melt down day, it took me 15 minutes extra!). I could walk art regular pace, my ankles didn't hurt and my feet didn't slip once. The only problem is that they're not for indoors so when I went into the shop they were a little slippery.

 















The boys couldn't believe the snow settled and was falling so heavily, they absolutely loved it and at last I wasn't a shaking wreck and could enjoy it with them.... apart from being freezing cold lol.

On the subject of decluttering, I have started to declutter again. Hoorahhhh!!! Although I am still feeling the black cloud hovering, I am trying to push through and work on getting our house nice.
I started in the kitchen last week and tackled two surfaces on Saturday, the dreaded container and cup cupboard on Sunday and another surface and corner on Wednesday.

It has made such a difference to the room!! it looks so much brighter and feels way lighter. I feel so happy with the accomplishment and am motivated to keep going, even if its a little at a time.

Even though the before pictures make me cringe, I can be pleased with how the after pictures look enough to keep my guilt at bay.

I have started to watch and read more cleaning/organising videos and blogs so if you have any channel or blog recommendations please let me know.

Have a great day, "see" you soon xxx

Winter Survival Part 2 - 10 Tips for Combating a Dry and/or Itchy Scalp.

Picture Borrowed from Internet.

For the last few months I have suffered from a severe case of itchy and dry scalp. I tried all different things to get rid of the horrid feeling but nothing seemed to work. It wasn't until I really sat down and thought about it that I realised that I suffered from the same thing at the same time the year before. I had thought it was because I had my hair in a protective style (crochet twists) for an unexpectedly long time and didn't have a chance to wash my scalp. Although they both may have added to the itch, I have come to believe that it was the cold weather that caused it and the conditions just exacerbated it.

I had a quick research to see if cold weather had affected anyone else's scalp and found so many poor fellow sufferers that I took it for confirmation as they say.

This post I hope to offer some tips and share what I did to combat my dry and itchy scalp in case you or someone you know is also suffering.

Tip 1- Try To Identify The Cause Of The Problem

There are many reasons why our scalp becomes dry and/or itchy. Could it be an allergic reaction? perhaps to a hair product? Is there a medical condition - dandruff, dermatitis or eczema for instance? Could it be possible that there is a parasite problem (sorry!) If you think it is any of the above, the best thing to do would be to see your doctor or get medical advice first and tackle the issue. You may find that the treatment and/or advice is enough to eradicate the itchy scalp.

Tip 2 - Find Out If The Itching Is Causing The Dryness Or The Dryness Is Causing The Itching.

Lol.... sounds like the chicken or the egg question.

It may sound odd but if your hair is dry you may start to itch it. If your scalp is itchy, your scratching can cause it to become dry. If you stop one you can often stop the other.

If your scalp is dry, moisturise it. If your scalp is itchy try and alleviate the itching.

Picture Borrowed from Internet.

Tip 3 - Try Not To Itch/Scratch.

Yes I know..... Very annoying tip.... if you could stop itching you wouldn't.... But., The itching/scratching may feel good for that brief moment but it could actually be causing more problems. When you itch you risk causing damage to the scalp and follicles. You may cause abrasions on the scalp which is bad in itself but they may become inflamed and at worst infected.
The abrasions may not be able to heal properly as you will likely itch the scabs off and reopen the wounds.

Tip 4 - Natural  Products That Help With Itching.

As you may know, I love natural remedies and rustling up handmade products to use on my face, skin and hair as well as around the house so I reached for the following items to help keep the itching at bay;
Aloe Vera Gel - I put this directly on my scalp. It was cooling and also soothing.
Coconut Oil - I applied this to my scalp at night time to help stop the itchies.
Baking Soda - Used as a masque before I washed my hair.
Apple Cider Vinegar - Used as a rinse before washing, added to baking soda to form a paste and/or as a rinse after conditioning.
Rose Water - Spritzed directly on the scalp before washing or used to make a paste with other items.


Tip 5 - Natural Products That Help With Dryness.

There are many remedies and treatments out there but this is what I found helpful.
Coconut Oil - Used as a hot oil treatment
Avocado Oil - Applied to my scalp daily.
Honey and Coconut Milk - Put coconut milk (I like to use it in powder form) and made a masque with Manuka honey allow it to sit on the scalp for a while and then wash hair as usual or you can use it after washing hair as a conditioning treatment.
Amla Powder and Rose water - A lovely soothing and rich masque.

Picture Borrowed from Internet.

Tip 6 - Keep Your Scalp Clean and Avoid Product Buildup.

Another seemingly obvious one. If your scalp is dirty or you have a lot of product buildup, you will be fighting a losing battle. Your scalp needs to be clean and it also needs to breath. Your follicles will also get blocked by dirt and/or products and that will in turn give your scalp a hard time. Get a clarifying shampoo and use it once a month. You can also use natural remedies to clarify your scalp.


Tip 7- Purchase Hair Products Specifically Targeted At Dry And/or Itchy Conditions.

This one may seem obvious but it's often the obvious that goes by without a thought.
There are many products that target dry scalp conditions. Pop along to the hair/beauty shop or browse your fave online store and purchase some items that will help banish your scalp problem. If you're not sure what to get or become overwhelmed, have a look at reviews or go to the section of your favourite brand(s) and see if they have any targeted items.
I followed my gut instinct (and prayer) for most of my purchases. I wanted to use items that were as natural as possible so went for brands with more natural ingredients. I knew that African Black Soap is great for so many issues and I had seen that Shea Moisture had a ABS line so went with items from there. I picked up items from a couple other brands that I love for their natural and/or organic properties. (I will do a post/ review soon)

Tip 8 - Keep Hair Products And Regime(n) Simple.

I found that while my scalp was playing up it was best to keep things simple.
I wasn't sure if the products I was using could be causing the problem or making it worse and as I was using a number of different items for different styles, I purchased some hair products that I thought would help and streamlined my Regime(n) to use them and them alone. I cut back on the amount of manipulation and styling as that could further aggravate my scalp.
I kept wash days very basic, cleanse, deep condition and that was it. A couple times I added a soothing tea rinse.
I kept my hair in two camerow/cane/cornrows  and replaited them every night.
I treated my scalp every night and used specific products every time the itching got bad in the day.
When your scalp is back to normal you can slowly re-introduce products.

Picture Borrowed from Internet.

Tip 9 - Keep Your Relieving Product To Hand At All Times.
Yup another obvious one but also one that slips through. If you have a spray, oil, elixr or other item that you use to relieve the itching/combat the dryness or both, make sure you have it hand at all times. If you are leaving the house bring it with you. You could put it on your desk or in desk draw if at work.... or in your locker if at school/college/uni/work. Put it in your bag if you carry one or even if you don't like bags it's worth carrying one just until your scalp problems subside.
I found that when I didn't have my "reliever" with me I would itch and scratch and itch some more and I would get abrasions which would itch even more and I ended up reopening them(see tip 3 wasn't so annoying after all). By the time I got home I was in a bad way.
When I had my "reliever" at hand I could give my scalp a spritz whenever the dreaded itch striked.

Tip 10 - Take Notes.

I found it helpful to take note of what helped my scalp (and what didn't). It was easy to miss something or take something for granted otherwise. I was able to determine when to use something or even when to stop. You can make a mental note but it will help for any future flare ups if there is a physical note or documentation to look back on.

Bonus Tip!!

You may find that you will have to stop using something that was very helpful as your scalp gets better. The products you are using may be too harsh for a "normal" scalp. I found that the oil I was using was great when the problem was dire but as it calmed down, I would notice a mini flare in itching when I used it. I stopped using it and all was well. You should notice your scalp calming down and then finally stop.


wow!! That was a LOOOOONNNGGG post lol. I hope you found a tip or 2 (or 8 lol) that helps. If you too have suffered from a dry or itchy scalp I'd love to hear what worked for you.

Winter Survival Part 1 - Why do I feel so SAD?

Picture Borrowed From Internet

First up sorry for the outrageous play on words in the post title.

It's no secret that I cannot take the cold, no way, no how. Myself and our middle son feel the cold the most in our household (as I type this I feel I am repeating myself lol, I'm thinking I may have moaned about the cold weather before) we just can't take the frost and chill brrrr.

Winter has it's good points and benefits but for many it comes with a condition called
Seasonal Affective Disorder - or SAD for short and also known as "Winter Depression"
This condition causes the sufferer to feel low, have a lack of motivation, problems getting out of bed and many more problamatic symptoms including physical ones.
The severity differs from person to person.

Even people who do not have SAD can feel down on winter days and need to find ways to pick themselves up so in this first part of my Winter Survival Series we will look at ways to survive the "Winter Blues".


Get some sun.
The lack of sunlight hours is the main culprit of SAD symptoms.
Although the frosty weather may cause you to hide under your duvet, brave the outdoors and get some natural sunlight. Not only will you top up your vitamin D but will help to increase the production of Serotonin - the hormone that controls sleep, mood and appetite, reduce the production of melatonin - the hormone that makes us sleepy and help the working of our circadian rhythm -the internal body clock.
If you are unable to spend time in natural sunlight you can purchase specially manufactured light boxes and/or lamps.

Picture borrowed from web

Get Moving.
Regular exercise is important for both our physical and mental health, it can help boost your energy levels, blood flow, immunity, self esteem and waste elimination.
The gym is often the first place we think off when we talk about exercising and it's brilliant for the variety of equipment and classes but if the gym isn't for you, for whatever reason, there's plenty of alternatives.
 Walking is a great choice as it is free, gets you outside (soak up the sun) gets the heart racing and tones legs hips and bum. If you are feeling energetic or are quite fit why not step it up a gear(no pun intended) and jog or run instead.
 You can also workout at home, weights and kettlebells are readily accessible or you can make use of exercise dvds, online classes and Youtube videos.


Be Social.
Isolation and loneliness can make the symptoms even worse. Being around others is great for your emotional and physical well being.
Spend time with people, talk more, go out -it doesn't have to cost much you cold even go on a joint walk and get some sun(see a pattern here? lol)
Organise a day or night where a group of friends get together and socialise.


Get Some Sleep.
Although insomnia and/or sleep disturbance can be symptoms of SAD, it is important to try and regulate your sleeping pattern.
Aim to get adequate sleep at night. Use sleeping techniques if you find it difficult to fall asleep or even to stay asleep.
Take opportunities to nap during the day if you haven't slept well the night before.


Talk It Through.
Anxiety and stress will wreak havoc on your health at the best of times but teamed up with the feelings of SAD you can begin to feel in despair. We often bottle our feelings up and keep them inside but this can be very harmful.
Try to open up to someone close and trustworthy, share your feelings. The old adage - "a problem shared is a problem halved" has a lot of truth to it.
Consider therapy whether individual or group. Writing things down also helps.


Keep Calm.
The worse thing anyone can say to me when I'm in a panic is to calm down! If I could be calm I wouldn't be panicked, but taking measures to keep calm really helps when low feelings arise.
Although medication can help there are alternatives that you may like to try for example herbal teas, bach flower remedies, essential oils and aromatherapy(always check these are suitable for your usage), massage.
Practical exercises such as breathing techniques, counting, closing your eyes etc will also work wonders.
Prayer and meditating on all that is good can calm even the most tumorous situations.

The Art of Distraction.
Sometimes it's hard to think clearly, things get on top of you and you just can't deal with everything. Day-to-day stresses, or difficult issues can become too much to bare.
It's helpful to find something that will take your mind of your problems, even for a short while.
Find a hobby, play a game, read a book, volunteer for a good cause. Anything that will get your mind concentrating on something else.

Picture borrowed from web

I hope this post was useful and also helpful, Even if you don't feel the "Winter blues" it may help you to identify if someone you know has.
If you do feel low, whether in the winter or any time at all, please don't suffer in silence. Seek help.