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New Year, New Attitude

Posted by: Susie Rogers Posted Date: 05/01/2012

It might be deeply ingrained within the British psyche, but the compulsion to moan and complain is ultimately self-defeating - it makes us feel miserable.

Flip it around and the converse is true: offering praise and support creates a positive atmosphere that benefits not only the recipient of our goodwill, but also ourselves. We feel good because we've made someone else happy.

Now I'm not suggesting for one moment that we should all pass our days liberally lavishing praise on the unworthy, otherwise that surly, unhelpful, call-centre worker would score unrealistically high on the post-call feedback score we're all encouraged to engage in. But praise where it's due is a force for good. As the owner of BeautyWorksWest, I've been taken aback by the number of positive comments we've received from customers who have enjoyed using our new products. Not because our products are not worthy of praise, they are, but because many of these comments were quite unsolicited. People were emailing us extolling the virtues of YOUTH, thanking us for courteous customer service and prompt delivery, and detailing how the supplement had made them feel better. Many more conversations took place on the phone, a rare thing these days but so rewarding.

This, of course, is nourishing food for the soul. It makes all the hard work worthwhile and provides the impetus to do more. Like Ready Brek, it leaves a burning ember glowing inside. And who wouldn't like to make someone feel warm inside, or indeed feel it for themselves.

 

 

Raw Magic - the luxury detox and diet delivery service

Posted by: Susie Rogers Posted Date: 08/09/2011
Now Girls you have to try this!! I have and read my dairy to find out more ... ViEW MY DIARY HERE Raw Fairies is the No 1. luxury detox and diet delivery service in London offering raw organic cuisine. Leading raw food chef Anya Ladra combines great taste in inventive dishes with fresh, nutritious ingredients. Raw Fairies, based in Notting Hill, has a cult following including A-list celebrities and VIPs. It offers a selection of unique food programmes designed to make detoxing and healthy eating convenient and pleasurable. Choose the programme most suited to your lifestyle and it will be discreetly delivered directly to your home or office in central London. The 5-Day Cleanse is a combination of gourmet raw food, fresh fruit and vegetable juices and nutritionist-designed supplements. It is the perfect home detox solution for those who want easy access to increased energy, clearer skin and weight loss. The Skin Food Programme is a 10-day programme specifically designed to benefit the skin from the inside out. It offers a combination of nutrient-packed raw food, bespoke superfood skin boosters, green juices and good fats. It is a great way to get your skin glowing for a special occasion. The Daily Delivery Service takes the hassle out of healthy eating.  Raw Fairies’ meals are delivered as often as you need with breakfast, lunch and dinner taken care of. You can also choose from a variety of extra items including juices, good-for-you desserts and superfood boosters. 

Free Your Space & Your Mind!

Posted by: Susie Rogers Posted Date: 04/07/2011

The sorry clothes in your wardrobe

which haven’t seen daylight for years, either too big,

too small or too off-trend, as they say.

The shoes that you’ve never worn but worship in their pristine box. Then there are the infamous drawers, that safe haven for all those things you must keep hold of but never use. A jumble of wires, cables, computer parts and broken watches. Not to mention the piles of old papers and magazines which would more suitably sit in your dentist’s waiting room.

We all aspire to the semi-mythical ‘spring clean’, but rarely get around to it. Well, now is the time to declutter. Charity shops are just desperate for those old clothes and remember, those designer must-haves you bought on a whim could raise money for many global hot-spots in need. So liberating your home not only liberates your mind but can help needy others.

I have a great friend who has recently embarked upon an all-encompassing decluttering campaign, clearing 25 years worth of clothes she has been hoarding. They were taking up all the space in her flat, indeed one room was a shrine to all the things she had bought but barely worn. So, after delivering over 70 bags’ worth to charity shops she felt good, very good, not least because we figured out those designer and vintage items probably raised enough money to vaccinate over 1,000 children.

You could also work to my favoured principle. For every new thing I buy, I give away something old. Cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind, as the psychologists say. And that’s a fact.

So free your spirit and if you haven’t worn it, used it, or loved it for a year, give it away!

Hugs..!  Susie

Here’s to female friendships : Good for your health

Posted by: Susie Rogers Posted Date: 10/06/2011

Here's to female friendships : Good for your health

I received this email through a friend and want to share it with you…

She wrote...

I just finished taking an evening class at Stanford. The last lecture was on the mind-body connection--the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends. At first everyone laughed, but he was serious.

Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically this "quality girlfriend time" helps us to create more serotonin--a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well being. Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities.

They rarely sit down with a buddy and talk about how they feel about certain things or how their personal lives are going. Jobs? Yes. Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf? Yes. But their feelings?--rarely. Women do it all the time. We share from our souls with our sisters, and evidently that is very good for our health. He said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym.

There's a tendency to think that when we are "exercising" we are doing something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged--not true. In fact, he said that failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking! So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health!

We are indeed very very lucky.

So let's toast to our friendship with the women in our lives. Evidently it's very good for our health.

Hugs..!  Susie

Enjoy a heavenly massage!

Posted by: Susie Rogers Posted Date: 16/03/2011

Okay ladies and gents, the knots are rising up my back

and the stress is still there even though I’m working out,

stretching, eating well and trying to behave myself. We all

know the week just takes it out of you. 

So, this weekend I finally got it together and booked a 90 minute massage (it takes at least 15 minutes for me to chill out so 90 minutes is so much better than 60).  Heavenly bliss, better than a shopping fix and cheaper in the long run too!  Good for the mind, body & soul and afterwards, you feel you can take on the world.

A great masseuse is worth their weight in gold, so get a recommendation from a friend, make sure they are properly trained and are not just a beauty therapist who massages occasionally.  To make it really special find a massage therapist who does reflexology for that little bit extra. Don’t make any plans for a few hours after the massage, relax, drink plenty of water to help remove those toxins and enjoy.  Trust me, you’re worth it! 

Super Foods for Glowing Healthy Skin

Posted by: Susie Rogers Posted Date: 07/02/2011

Okay, we all know we are what we eat. Have been doing

some research and come up with the following foods for

better skin tone and wrinkle fighting. Combined with a great

skin care routine and eating these Super Foods, we are

going to look just “Fabulous”!

Spinach and Kale have been proven to help improve skin hydration and elasticity thanks to the antioxidants called “lutein” and beta-carotene shows French research. These two important nutrients are noted to improve skin elasticity and firmness.

Turkey - not just a holiday treat any more, of course make sure its organic, but the carnosine in white meat Turkey is now known to slow the deterioration of collagen in the skin.

Red and Yellow Peppers as well as being considered super foods for the skin because of their high antioxidant properties, are now known to offer extra UV protection according to research at the University of Arizona. Amazing news for us sun lovers.

Olives are a skin boosting snack — the more olives you eat, the less wrinkled your skin appears, according to research by Monash University in Australia. Thank you Australians for providing us with this research, as we do love our olives.

Olive Oil for those that don’t like olives. Have at least one tablespoon a day. Olive Oil has “good fat." It contains heart healthy omega-3's which improve your circulation leaving the skin rosy and supple.

Raspberries contain ellagic acid which is known to help protect collagen. Studies also show raspberry extract can inhibit the inflammation response that causes some skin cancers.

Bananas are not fattening, it’s a myth. Bananas are slightly higher in energy than other fruits but the calories come mainly from carbohydrate; excellent for refueling before, during or after exercise. Bananas are also jam-packed with potassium that helps lower blood pressure and vitamin B6 for healthy skin and hair. I always have them before I workout or as a pick me up after a long day.

Brazil nuts like other nuts are generally full of essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. Recent studies suggest that eating a small handful of nuts four times a week can help reduce heart disease and satisfy food cravings. Brazil nuts are one of the few good sources of selenium that may help protect against cancer, depression and Alzheimer's disease. Anything that makes you less depressed and protects you against all the nasties is going to make you appear younger and happier.

Watermelon for a hydrated, soft complexion! Watermelon contains lots of Vitamin C, Potassium and Lycopene. These ultimate antioxidants help to regulate the balance of water and nutrients in cells. Hydration is the key too vibrant, healthy, youthful looking skin of course.

Blueberries to smooth fine lines and creases! Truly a Super Food for the skin, research has shown that they contain more fiber and antioxidants than any other food. Blueberries prevent cell-structure damage that can lead to fine lines, wrinkles and loss of skin firmness.

Green Tea to diminish brown spots! We knew it was good, but this is a great find. Not only is this healthy brew great for your diet and boosting your metabolism, it contains "catechins," an effective compound for preventing premature aging and effects of sun damage. Green Tea is rich in antioxidants that fight off free radical damage and may reverse the effects of aging. I’m putting down the coffee now!

Oily Cold-Water Fish to reduce redness and inflammation! Salmon, sardines or mackerel naturally contain Omega-3 Fatty Acids which strengthen skin-cell membranes helping to hydrate the skin.

Pomegranate- the new trendy Super Food is a Middle Eastern fruit known to combat heart disease, as well as containing three times as many cancer-fighting antioxidants as green tea. It is believed to be particularly effective in warding off prostate cancer and, very possibly, breast cancer. Pomegranates have effective antibacterial properties and have also been shown to alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Pomegranate has high levels of vitamin C, which is necessary for healthy skin, teeth, bones and connective tissue. What doesn’t it do?

Happy Eating!

Kissing!

Posted by: Susie Rogers Posted Date: 05/01/2011

At BeautyWorksWest we’re always on the look out for the

next best anti-ageing cure-all. Guess what it is this time...

Kissing!

Kissing is the ultimate aphrodisiac.  It has the capacity to bridge conflicts and differences between people, to bring people closer and make both the "kisser" and the "kissee" feel better.

In a recent American Study (those Americans study so many things) people who kissed for 15 minutes while listening to music experienced higher levels of oxytocin -the hormone that encourages you to bond. Plus it lowered levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

And.. big passionate kisses help you lose weight! Kissing increases your metabolic rate, therefore helping you burn calories. Wow – can you imagine that? Brilliant.

Kissing has also been scientifically proven to increase adrenalin making your heart work faster and increasing blood flow. The results are:  lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and better cardiovascular activity. 

We strongly advise you to get out there and find that certain loved one or “in lust” one to start kissing!

Baci. Baiser. Besos X x X

Meditation

Posted by: Susie Rogers Posted Date: 10/12/2010

If we want to beautify from the inside out, there’s a ton we can do … eat naturally low fat foods, drinks tons of water, get lots of sleep but the key is to calming the mind. One of the most difficult tasks is sitting still – no telly, no Iphone, no trashy magazines or other much needed daily distractions – just you and your thoughts. Ah ha... it’s those thoughts that keep racing right? Well, the heart of finding beauty within is to take time out of your day to observe your mind, shut off your thoughts, take in conscious breaths and be still – otherwise known as meditation.

Meditation… sounds all a bit daunting? I know what you’re thinking… “not for me”, “don’t have enough time”, “got kids – no can do”, “impossible!” Stop right there… meditation can be simple, as long as you understand it and you learn about what works for you.

Researchers say that meditation helps you lower blood pressure and some medical theorists even claim that you’re 49% less likely to die from Cancer and 30% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease.

The basic idea is that when you meditate, your body produces “alpha-waves” which help aid in creating calm and heightened awareness and then there’s “theta waves” to promote wellbeing. Plus, there’s the added bonus of alleviating chronic pain, boosting your immune system and increasing your brain function – sounds better than falling in love!

The many different meditation practices have wonderful benefits and so many different techniques which all have the same result. It’s definitely an art that needs some practice and a bit of discipline, but overall it can be very simple.

My suggestion is to find some simple ways to meditate and learn from the best. There’s a ton of different methods - yet, I can only speak for transcendental meditation that I’ve practiced for many years. It’s based on the simple premise of keeping your eyes closed in silence, whilst repeating a word (or mantra) over and over in your mind. You only need about 20 minutes each day. No worries… passersby on the bus or at home will just think you’re taking a much-needed snooze, but rest assured you are actually releasing stress and exhaustion in a natural way. You’re quieting your mind and calming your nerves.

London’s got some of the most interesting places to learn meditation techniques. Try: Transcendental Meditation Centre London - www.tmmeditationlondon.org.uk or the London Meditation Centre - www.londonmeditationcentre.com - where you can learn about Vedic Meditation. They offer a free introductory meeting where you can learn about the benefits and how it works. From there, you can sign up for the basic meditation course offered over four consecutive days and each lasting about two hours.

My personal favourite mediation guru is Italian born, Notting Hill based - Daniel Boido. He’s a 20-year practitioner of many forms of meditation. Recently, he’s even developed his own style of meditation that combines hypnosis and deep relaxation techniques. It’s life transforming! Drop him an email at danbnow@live.co.uk.

And just think… no frown lines!

Feeling Good

Posted by: Susie Rogers Posted Date: 23/06/2010

Feeling Good in 2010

We don't really do New Year's resolutions, but we do try

to keep fit mentally and physically all year round.  There

are no secrets, but these are some of the things we do

to feel good...even on a bad hair day!

Get enough sleep. Sleep replenishes the mind and body, and we all regard our beds as one of our favourite places. Finally to sleep, perchance to dream.

Drink water. It’s easy not to, or to forget, but water is our life-giving force. Drinking water helps cleanse the body, makes us feel more energized and promotes a healthy complexion. Try hot water with a slice of lemon for variation.

Chew slowly. We love our food, but attacking it with gusto, particularly when hungry, does not makes us feel satiated, so we eat more. We try to chew slowly, savouring every mouthful, and that way a little goes a long way.

Laugh a lot. Laughter is a tonic, releasing chemicals to the brain which make you feel, well, happy. And if you laugh and feel happy it’s infectious, so go on, pass it around!