Glamumous: Well Being

As my children and I were all labouring under the effects of persistent colds, I remembered a "recipe" for herbal steam tablets in the January edition of Daphne's Diary. Made using bicarbonate of soda and essential oils, these tablets are intended to release lovely smelling vapours to invigorate while you shower and they're very easy to make at home.

Here's how we made our own herbal steam tablets, along with a few tips we learned along the way.

What you'll need:

250g of Bicarbonate of soda (Often found cheaply in a box of this weight in pharmacies and hardware stores)
Your favourite essential oils (we used eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender). About 20-25 drops of each type
A little water
A cupcake/bun tray with 12 moulds
12 cupcake liners (or small rounds of greaseproof paper to line the tray)
A large mixing bowl

Here's how to make your herbal steam shower tablets:

Line your bun/cupcake tray with liners or rounds of greaseproof paper.
Empty your bicarbonate of soda into the mixing bowl and add a little water, mixing all the time. Keep adding water (perhaps a teaspoonful at a time) until the mixture becomes a firm paste which can hold its shape.
It's really important not to make your mixture runny! We made this mistake the first time we tried to make the tablets, which resulted in almost three days of drying time!
Add around 20 drops of each of your favourite essential oils to the mixture and give it a final stir to distribute the oils through the paste.
Distribute the mixture equally between your twelve moulds. Pat the paste down to firm and level the tablets.
Leave the tray in a fairly warm place (such as a sunny windowsill) to dry. The tablets will probably smell fairly strong, so I wouldn't advise placing on or near a radiator as the scent may well become overpowering.
Once the tablets are completely dry, you can remove them from the tray and store in a mason jar or lidded plastic tub until you are ready to use one. We left ours in their liners to prevent them crumbling before having the chance to use them.

To use your herbal shower tablets:

Run your shower water until it gets hot, place a tablet on the shower floor and enjoy!

Improvements on the original recipe

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, our recipe is based on one which we found in the magazine, Daphne's Diary (which, by the way, is an amazing publication!). We made two attempts at the shower tablets, being much more careful with the amount of water we used the second time round, though wee still a little concerned that the resulting tablets crumbled way too easily when we removed them from their cases.

After a little googling, we found this helpful post from Frugal by Choice which suggested baking the tablets on a low heat before adding the essential oils:

For anyone who is having issues with these being "crumbly", try using 1 cup of baking soda and 1/3 cup of water (plus maybe a few tbslp more) and baking for 20 minutes at 350. THEN add a few drops of each essential oils to the cooled "puck". That was a suggestion from a commenter and I tried it this morning with great success! I'm a quick shower taker (less than 5 min), and my "disk" was only about 1/3 gone at the end of the shower.

We haven't tried this yet, though intend to later this week when I can source another box of soda to make them with! Just don't be tempted to add the oils before baking lest your oven (and kitchen) become infused with the scents!

Final thoughts

While I was familiar with "bath bombs" and bath salts infused with lovely scented oils, I hadn't thought about using shower tablets before reading the article in my magazine. Although our initial attempts have easily crumbled, we did feel rather invigorated (and certainly less congested) after using them, and are sure to make them again!

Have you ever made your own herbal steam tablets? Which essential oils did you choose to use? I'd love to know your thoughts and opinions on this simple recipe, particularly if you have any suggestions for how they can be improved.

Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions below, or visit Glamumous on Facebook to leave your comments there.

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As our schedules become even more busy, we often forget to take the time to enjoy the small things which make us happy. Simple experiences, such as enjoying a coffee with a friend or seeing a child's face light up as they smile, are moments which can make us feel more content about our lives. As the 100 Happy Days project explains:

The ability to appreciate the moment, the environment and yourself in it, is the base for the bridge towards long term happiness of any human being.

So here is my challenge: an you spare a minute or two, each day for 100 days, to document a happy moment in your life?
I chanced upon the 100 Happy Days project through a link posted in one of my Facebook groups and after seeing the excited comments from my friends, I couldn't resist clicking through to learn more about it.

The premise is simple: for 100 days, post a photo of something which made you happy on a social media site (or keep it anonymous by sending emails if that's what you prefer). This can be anything at all: a picture of a meal enjoyed with your best friend; your favourite shoes, or even an entry in your journal!

By taking a minute out of your life to appreciate any small thing which made you smile for 100 days (or more!) you'll be much more likely to be in a better mood; become more optimistic, and notice more of the things which make you happy everyday. What's more, happier people are more likely to receive compliments or even fall in love...

How do I sign up?

Head over to the 100 Happy Days site to register your details. It's totally free to participate, and you can upload your photos to any social media platform you use. Once you've registered, be sure to tag your photos with #100happydays so the site can register your daily participation, or if you'd prefer to keep your photos private, you can email them to the website instead.

Since I usually take photos with my smartphone, I've opted to upload mine to Instragram - take a look at my stream if you're interested. I'd love to hear about your experiences through the project, so if you'd like to share your own 100 Happy Days, feel free to link up to your own social media pages in the comments section below and let us know if your own participation helps you feel a greater sense of happiness in your own life.

Photo credit: Lara Cores, via Flickr

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Head lice. Pesky little critters aren't they? It's estimated that one in three school-aged children will get head lice at some point during the year, and that as many as one in ten have them at any one time!

Children aged between four and eleven are at most risk of contracting head lice, though adults can get them too - particularly parents who may contract them from their youngsters.

Unfortunately head lice are notoriously difficult to get rid of, particularly as we may not notice their presence until they've had time to set up home and spawn a few generations more. Having battled with the pests on more than one occasion, I can offer some useful advice for how to really get rid of head lice, along with tips to help keep them at bay.

Understanding head lice

Mature head lice are tiny brown six-legged insects about the size of a sesame seed, while newly hatched lice are the size of a pin head. They thrive in human hair, biting the scalp and feeding on blood. In many cases, an infestation of head lice causes itching of the scalp though contrary to common belief this is not caused by the insects feeding, rather it is a reaction to the congealing substance secreted by lice to close the bite wound after they have fed.

Female lice are able to lay eggs between 10 and 14 days after hatching. These tiny white eggs are attached to hair strands close to the scalp and are very difficult to spot. The empty cases remain "glued" to the hair and may become easier to spot as hair grows.

Head lice cannot jump or fly; instead they are transmitted through close (head to head) contact, which is why school children - and particularly girls - are most likely to get them. Parents too can get head lice as we are in such close contact with our children. Unfortunately head lice can live away from humans for short periods of time (up to 24 hours), so when treating your household it's important to remember they may be present on bedding, towels and clothes too (see below).

How to detect head lice

If you suspect the presence of head lice in your children's hair, you can easily check by inspecting hair close to the scalp, particularly around the nape of the neck and behind the ears (you may find it useful to use a fine-toothed comb for this). Look for the presence of the small brown creatures themselves, but also for any eggs which will have been laid on hair strands very close to the skin.

Checking your own hair may prove a little more problematic if you don't have (or are embarrassed to ask) someone to help you. One easy solution is to comb your hair while bent over an empty bathtub or white sheet so you can spot any critters which drop out.

If you discover one member of your family has head lice, you should check everyone for their presence as it is highly likely they will have been passed on to at least one other person (if not everyone).

The tried and trusted way to get rid of head lice

Here comes the hard part. Everyone who has head lice in the household needs to be treated on the same day. ideally in as short a time frame as possible. To really get rid of head lice it is essential that this happens, or those who have not yet been treated may (unwittingly, of course) pass on their unwelcome visitors back to those who have.

To begin de-infestation you will need two important tools:

A metal "nit comb" - preferably a Nitty Gritty comb
A large bottle of cheap hair conditioner (supermarket "basic" range conditioner is ideal)

For each person affected, wet the hair and lather on a large amount of hair conditioner. Don't skimp, this is why I suggest using the cheapest you can find! Leave it to work for a couple of minutes, then work through sections of hair from scalp to end with the nit comb, wiping on a tissue after each stroke to get rid of any lice and eggs from the comb.

Pay particular attention to the crown, nape of neck and behind the ears as these are the most common places where lice are found. Repeat until you find no more lice or eggs, then rinse off the conditioner. While the hair is still wet, comb through one final time to be absolutely certain there are no bugs remaining.

Be sure to wash all of the towels used to dry hair on the highest heat setting possible to kill any stray lice or eggs. I would also recommend stripping bedding from all beds and washing with the towels on a high heat. Head lice can live away from human heads for up to 24 hours, so washing anything which may have come into contact with the little beasts is a must! If you have a tumble dryer, you can use this instead: head lice cannot tolerate high heat!

Over the next fortnight, repeat the hair conditioner/nit comb procedure every 2-3 days (at least five times in total). This may seem excessive, but in my experience it's the only way to be sure that any eggs you may have missed are caught within a couple of days of hatching before they reach maturity. After the initial purge, each combing will be much easier and less time consuming.

Once the fortnight is over, your family should be free of head lice, particularly if you are vigilant about washing towels and ensure bedding is changed regularly. However, I strongly recommend checking everyone's hair on a weekly basis and treat as necessary if the blighters reappear.

Why I strongly recommend the Nitty Gritty Comb

Of all the "nit combs" I've ever tried, the only one which had a truly marvellous effect on ridding hair of lice is The Nitty Gritty comb. Unlike regular nit combs, each tooth is made of a spiral groove in which head lice become trapped and cannot escape. This design also greatly enhances sliding eggs from the hair strand (which I've found almost impossible using any other comb).

The Nitty Gritty comb is slightly more expensive than the regular metal combs which can be bought from pharmacies, but is worth every penny! Some doctors may even provide a prescription for the comb!

I recall a description of the comb from the website which explains how the design "renders [head lice] invalid" - in other words, the lice are either killed or severely maimed and cannot simply slide off the comb to crawl back into the hair!

(Just in case you were wondering, I am neither affiliated nor was I requested to include links to the Nitty Gritty site. I sincerely recommend this product, based on my family's experience!).

Don't bother with lotions and potions

Over the years I've spent a small fortune (and had numerous prescriptions) for head lice lotions, foams and oils which were designed to get rid of head lice. Unfortunately, not one of them worked for us. A couple were promising enough, sending the lice into a frenzy as they tried to crawl away from the wicked chemicals or making hair so soft that combing was a breeze, but despite following instructions to the letter, none truly helped us get rid of all the lice and eggs.

Save yourself the hassle and don't bother buying any of these expensive "miracle cures". The wet combing method is in our opinion the only way to get rid of head lice!

Preventing head lice from returning

There is no definite way to prevent head lice from returning, though there are a few tips which may help.

Firstly, if your child has long hair, try to tie it up or plait it when they are at school or in close contact with other children. Tea-tree oil spray can help repel the little beasts, and can be purchased from pharmacies or made at home by adding a few drops of oil to a spray bottle of water.

Tell anyone who has been in close contact with your children know about the head lice (and that your family has been treated). As I mentioned earlier, head lice is nothing to be ashamed of. You've already acted responsibly in treating your family, and hope to ensure others do the same once they become aware of the situation.

Lastly, be vigilant! Check your children's hair weekly if possible, which helps catch any lice before they have much chance to settle and breed.

Do you have any extra tips?

Like many others reading this article, I'd love to know of any other tried and tested tips for getting rid of head lice or keeping them at bay! Please feel free to share your suggestions and comments using the form below.

Photo credit: MegaBu7, via Flickr

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Like many busy mums, I often find there's barely time in the day to comb out my tangled hair, let alone paint on a full face of make-up. Weekly manicures have become a thing of the past, and at the end of the month there's barely enough left in the pot for my favourite magazine, let alone a trip to the hairdressers!

Every woman wants to feel pretty and pampered, but when time and money are of the essence, what's a mum to do?

Here are a few suggestions for cheap and easy beauty fixes to fit in with even the tightest of schedules so you can have your beauty fix without having to worry about the cost!

Be fresh-faced in the morning

With even a few minutes to spare before the dreaded school/work run in the morning, it's still possible to look and feel fresh and put together.

Drink a large glass of water as soon as possible after waking to invigorate and rehydrate your body before hugging that mug of instant coffee - it really does help banish tiredness!

Splash your face with cold water after washing which will help to close open pores and give your skin a little glow. If you don't have time for make-up, follow up with a moisturiser at least. My favourite for daytime is Lacura Shimmering Day Cream which costs under £2 from Aldi which (as the name suggests) gives a subtle shimmering glow which is perfect for disguising blotchy skin (people often think I'm wearing make-up when I use this, for the price it really is that good!).

Try a tinted lip balm if you haven't the time to apply lipstick, then you won't have to worry about smudges or perfection and can smooth out dry lips in the process! Palmers have recently brought out a range which look great and smell delicious (try the dark chocolate and cherry version, it's lush!).

Get creative with hair accessories

Many mums simply don't have the time to wash, dry and style their hair every morning (I know I certainly don't!).

Rather than venture out with (literally) "just got out of bed" hair, try using hair accessories such as hairbands, grips, pretty slides and clips to tame your unruly mane.

eHow has a great series of videos demonstrating loads of different ways you can dress up your hair with simple cheap hair accessories. I particularly like this one which explains how to use grips to pin hair up in a pleat:

How to Use Bobby Pins to Style Your Hair -- powered by ehow

Care for your hands while you're cleaning

Are cleaning duties drying out your hands? Give yourself an intensive hand treatment while you work!

Simply slather your favourite hand cream all over your hands before donning rubber gloves. The warmth of the washing-up water will intensify the moisturising effects, leaving your hands feeling silky soft and pampered when you're done.

Pamper your feet while you sleep

Got a pair of old cotton socks and a jar of Vaseline to hand?

Just before going to bed, spread a layer of Vaseline all over your feet and pull your socks over them. The Vaseline will do it's work tending to cracked, dry or sore feet while you sleep, leaving you with lovely soft tootsies when you wake.

If you happen to have a pair of cotton gloves you can try this for your hands too!

Got any more tips?

I'm always on the lookout for time and moneysaving beauty tips, and would love to hear if you have any tips to share! Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions below.

Image credit: Ed Yourdon, via Flickr

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For many women, the dawn of motherhood signals a pause in their pursuit of personal development. They become nurturers, caregivers, selfless beings who when faced with a moment to themselves wonder how best to spend this time for the good of the family, rather than on themselves.

Dreams are put on hold and plans for growing the self are held off until children are older, perhaps even flown the nest... Unfortunately these women fail to understand that personal development is not a selfish treat enjoyed only by themselves, it is an important investment in family life.

The purely selfless mum is not a happy one!

When a mum selflessly serves everyone else while placing no importance on her own needs, she will develop a growing sense of disappointment and unhappiness which ultimately may lead to resentment.

Everyone functions at their peak when they feel good in their own skin: when our personal and emotional needs are fulfilled we look outwards and better instil that sense of contentment in others, and mothers are no exception.

A mother's happiness is like a beacon, lighting up the future but reflected also on the past in the guise of fond memories. ~Honoré de Balzac

A happy mum is in a far better position to attend the needs of her family, and her positivity filters through to ensure the rest of the household shares her contentment.

Placing value on yourself earns the respect of your family

A very dear friend of mine places the needs of her children so far above her own that she considers herself a slave to their every whim, and in return is often treat like one. Without a shadow of a doubt, she adores her children, but since she regards her needs as unimportant (or at least, less important), she is not rightfully respected by her family.

By taking care of her own needs, a mum shows her family that she is not only worthy but commanding of respect. Children and partners express their support by making minor sacrifices enabling mum to take care of herself; this in turn promotes well-being for the whole family to enjoy.

Becoming a better role model

All mothers hope for their children to be happy and fulfilled in adulthood. We encourage them to be good students at school to open avenues of opportunity for their chosen career, but often forget that as parents we are their primary role models.

How can we instil a zest for education and personal development if we do not nurture these values in our own lives?

By demonstrating that we actively pursue developmental interests which in turn make us happy and contented as mothers, we encourage our children to do the same through to adulthood and beyond. There is no greater gift we can offer our children than a love of life and a quest for lifelong learning!

But I don't have the time...

Whether employed full time, or a stay-at-home mum of six, all mothers need a little time to themselves - if only for a few minutes a day.

With a little creativity, even the busiest mum can find a little time for personal development and you needn't spend a penny in the process.

For example, if you've always wanted to learn a foreign language, why not try learning French, German or Spanish during your coffee break? If you want to shed your baby weight, try the Couch to 5k programme in 20 minute slots - you could even bring baby along for your runs to enjoy the fresh air!

You could brush up on your maths skills to better help with homework (and track your progress) with Khan Academy, or invest time over a number of weeks to become certified in any number of interests with Alison Courses.

Remember that your personal development is not limited by the time you have available but by your willingness to engage. As a mum, you've likely encountered countless situations where creativity has helped you overcome obstacles. It's time to use those skills to bring value to yourself!

More help on the journey to personal development!

For a more structured approach to self development, I strongly recommend subscribing to Erica Douglas' free 12 step program for life improvement. This course is delivered by email over the course of eight weeks and help you "discover how to create your plan, gain the skills you need and conquer the fears that hold you back". Erica is a mum herself and really knows what she's talking about!

What are your thoughts on personal development as a mum?

Has a choice to engage in self-development provided you and your family with an increased sense of contentment? Perhaps you'd like to make small changes in your life in order to make you feel fulfilled?

I value your opinions and comments, so please feel free to leave your responses by using the form below.

Image credit: Per Ola Wiberg, via Flickr

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Having chanced upon a fly poster outside Tesco the other day, my daughter and I made a last-minute dash to The Baby Friendly Show at the Sheffield Park Hotel.

Despite already having two children, I hadn't yet had the opportunity to experience a show dedicated to babies, and had almost no idea of what to expect. At first, DD and I felt a little out of place in the glossy clean hotel entrance - where were the screaming hoardes of toddlers and their flustered parents? A quick word to the receptionist pointed us in the right direction where we found the show began in the entrance to the hotel's event section and a cheery greeting from one of the organizers.

We'd arrived a little late in the day, at around 1pm when the show had been in full swing since 9am. I guessed at this time that we'd probably missed most of the fun planned for the show, though my daughter was still very excited at being able to participate in the treasure hunt which led us from stand to stand in the main exhibition hall.

Despite our late arrival, there we still many families there, most of whom sported prams and babes in arms (or a growing bump like mine!). It was such a pleasant surprise to see many dads there who didn't seem bored to death, making me wish I'd had the foresight to encourage my partner to come along with us!

The Treasure Hunt for the children was a genius idea - we needed to find the fruit or vegetable hidden on each exhibitor's stand, helping me to discover many local services which I may have otherwise overlooked. Being pregnant, I was particularly interested in maternity events and services; though I was a little too shy to join in, I enjoyed watching the Daisy Birthing taster session and was very pleased to find information about financial help available to pregnant workers on the NCT stand!

My favourite part had to be rummaging through the "nearly new" sale where we found loads of wonderful bargains. For £12, I bought a pair of gorgeous smart maternity trousers, two tees, a long white shirt, a dress for DD and a pair of training roller skates, all great quality and decent labels too! If I'd had more cash on me, I would have also bought one of the lovely travel-systems too, though we didn't notice the hotel had a cash machine until we were on the way out!

Next month, the BFG is hosting The Kids Show at the same hotel which we're also looking forward to attending. If you live in or near Sheffield, we look forward to seeing you there!

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What to buy from Primark (and what to avoid)

In recent years, Primark has become a stable stopover for savvy shoppers hoping to blag quite a few bargains for their cash.

But as the old saying goes, we often "pay for what we get" - while Primark's selection is immense and very cheap, not everything is up to scratch. So inspired by this very helpful thread on the MoneySavingExpert forums, I thought I'd share my personal favourite buys from this budget high-street store.

For yourself...

Basic Tees (£2-3 each) - I prefer the short sleeved type in 100% cotton which wash and wear well for a few months at least (and I wear mine often!)
Underwear (from £2 to about £8) - Primark knickers aren't really meant to be worn or washed often (I've found most will begin to degrade after a few wears). But their camisole sets and t-shirt bras are fabulous, and there's a beautiful range of lingerie too!
Socks and tights (£1-3) - There's always a fabulous selection at low prices. Check out the reduced section for the best bargains
Hair accessories and costume jewelry (£1-5) - With packs of 20 bobbles or hair slides from just £1 and pretty jewelry from the same price, it's easy to jazz up tired outfits on the cheap
Shoes (£2.75-20) - Some of my favourite footwear EVER originated in a Primark store. My pretend-Uggs cost just £4 and lasted more than an entire winter of being worn everyday. I still own some of the prettiest sandals I've ever seen five years after purchase, and those cheap ballerina pumps at £2.75 a pair are worth it even for a single wear.

For the man in your life...

T-Shirts (from just £1.90!) -Even my local charity shops don't offer tees as cheap as these! The cheapest cotton ones do stretch after a few wears but are ideal for holidaying or lounging. We prefer the "branded" ones with bold logos across the front which have lasted for ages, such as a Top Gun one (£4) and a retro Atari tee (£6, often reduced to just £3).
Hoodies and Sweatshirts (£8-12) - Plain ones can be even cheaper, but the best are those with contrasting trims and/or logos. Often we find them reduced and snap them up for later wear.
Fitted Boxer Shorts (£3) - Unlike the ladies' knickers, these cotton shorts wash and wear well, and are usually sold in packs of 2.

For the kids...

Babygros and baby vests (£2-5) - Not the best quality, but good for those early months when baby outgrows clothes like there's no tomorrow
Cotton dresses for girls (£6-10) - These are not only beautiful but last ages too! Almost all my daughter has had were still good enough to pass on to the charity shop when she outgrew them. Wash on a low temperature to preserve the colour.
Cotton Tees (£1+) - Not really meant to last, but then does anyone have a child whose tee shirts last more than a few months?
Accessories (£1+) - From sunglasses to baseball caps, hair accessories, bags and everything between, there's a lot to be found for under £1 for the most discerning of young tastes
Party clothes (£8-ish for an outfit) - Great prices for those outfits which won't be worn often, but which still need to look pretty or smart

What not to buy

Things which we've learned from experience to avoid include:

Women's cheap knickers (unless you plan to wear only a couple of times, they tend to lose shape or fall apart)
Ladies jeans - I've never found a well-fitting pair!
Flimsy fashion pieces, which tear or lose shape very easily
Pajamas (apart from the winter shirt types) which barely last a few wears
Perfume, it almost always smells cheap!

What do you think?

Do you have any favourite finds at Primark? Is there anything you'd particularly avoid buying from this store? Share your thoughts by leaving your comments below.