Clare Macnaughton's Blog, page 28
May 22, 2014
Real life: Word Up – this is what’s going down in my hood
When I say ‘hood’ it may conjure up images of an urban ghetto, but the truth is I live in the heart of the countryside, surrounded by a mix of awfully, awfully nice people and others who like to stretch our words with ‘rrrrrs‘. So my mantra has been for the last year ‘work where I live’because I want to be able to earn money but remain flexible enough to be there for my children as and when they need me. With The Grenade, now 10 years old and 11 just around the corner, and The Menace, aged 6 years old, settled into the local state school, it’s time to build my business empire amongst the local community. Although I have to tell you I am dreading it! My local community is run by older men and women, who don’t like change at a pace they can’t handle. There is a heirarchy and rules, earned positions and deference that I will have to proffer; a cast characters which reads like it’s straight out of an Alan Ayckbourne play. Maybe I should think of it as business whispering and tread softly in, observing and working out how each mechanism ticks? I have time to tread slowly forwards because I think it needs a gentle approach.
I am not sure why, but it seems that doing one thing at a time for me is not enough.
Here’s the list of my crazy, hair brained, keep as many balls in the air as I can at any one time:
Coming soon to Amazon - Je Deteste Le Menage et autre articles
The French translated version of Tales from the Domestic Frontline with a snazzy new cover designed by my old mucker Simeon Brand – he’s a great designer and you can find him here - http://www.ess-brand.co.uk/
Coming soon to Amazon
A LOCAL LIFE – WARMINSTER edition
I am the new managing editor of A Local Life, a free, A5, independent, lifestyle magazine; distributed to Warminster and the surrounding villages
A Local Life due to launch in Warminster Sept/Oct 2014
Us Trois
I have formed a business partnership with another mum, and friend, Teresa Poolman. We have launched a local event business, hosting locally based, fun, cost effective events.
Follow us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/UsTrois
Coming soon to Amazon – I Hate Housework by Clare Macnaughton
I am compiling a book based on all of my writing since I was 12 years old. It will also incorporate in it Tales from The Domestic Frontline but hopefully give the shorter book more context and meaning. All the names will be changed because the majority of people in it are alive and some are still my friends on Facebook – although they may not be for long afterwards! I am in the process of approaching them individually and getting clearance. It’s agony having to read through all the angst of my teenage years, but it’s also hilarious. All the ranty boring bits are being edited out and I am hoping that it will be a rollercoaster read. It’s not just about me; it’s a window on the lives of others too and some of it is fiction. Everything I wrote I wrote it live at the time of happening so in a away it reflects, the language, culture and experiences of that time amongst me and my peers. I am not sure if my experiences are reflective of others in my peer group. I make no valuable contribution to existence. We are not particularly charitable or selfless. I find that in itself interesting that I grew up in a selfish, hedonistic time and I am absolutely a product of that. It also contains some very amusing comedy porn stories that I wrote for my friends to entertain us on those boring cashless, nights when we sat smoking in each others bedroom and I made up fictional scenarios where they had sex with boys they fancied or even more amusingly mingers they didn’t. It’s also making me realise what a dork I am. Clothes, fashion and beauty particularly were not important to me and as I go back through my old photos and diaries this becomes patently obvious and also amusing. I was make up free and furry, with bushy eyebrows and gallons of hair, wearing sensible comfy shoes! I have to say it’s not much different now, although I am definitely not as hirsuite and since I have greyed I now have multi-coloured hair! I still wear stupid clothes. Ask aunty Pat – she’ll verify the weird outfits!
There are no words for what I was thinking when I decided to throw this little outfit on!
And finally:
Happy 4th Birthday to my blog
Hurrah! #Blowstrumpets
The blog is still here after four years and I am still loving it. It has given me so much freedom, a place to grow my writing, meet some fantastic, inspirational people and I have made some amazing friends. I may not be one of the most interactive, inner sanctum bloggers, but I watch other bloggers success with pride and envy. They inspire me to carry on living my dreams, following my path because I know that blogging can help shape your life how you want your life to be shaped and it can also deliver some wonderful surprises along the way too. Thank you blog – I love you so much. You rock. And bloggers – you rock too – keep on changing the world in the wonderful ways that you do.
The post Real life: Word Up – this is what’s going down in my hood appeared first on Modern Military Mother .
May 8, 2014
#BrandsStopExploitingBloggers Working For Money – Join the cause!
There is nothing that grits my shit more than getting PR calls from blogger outreach executives and PR account managers asking me to work on behalf of their client for free.
A BLOGGER IS NOT A JOURNALIST
A BLOGGER IS A PUBLISHER
For example, the Andy Coulson would not approach Rupert Murdoch and ask him if he would support the Conservatives just because it’s in the best interest of the people. No! He says if you support the Conservatives I will incentivise you with some first class political corruption with the BSKYB deal. Sorry, I digress. By the way, it’s possible that did not happen. It’s conjecture or is it hearsay?
My point is this brands have marketing budget for advertising and PR and they are not allocating it to bloggers but instead are expecting them to endorse and support their products without a fee. Time is money. Every dumbass, fuckwit PR that rings me is getting paid to waste my time but I am not being paid to listen.
The way forward is ‘Brand Ambassador’ programmes where bloggers are incentivised brand champions and they can have dialogue with the brand about their blogging journey, especially if they hit ‘negative obstacles’ on the way. It creates dialogue and builds relationships and provides agreed incentives or perameters for bloggers to authentically champion the brand.
Bloggers are your customers and they have direct, intimate relationships with the audience brands may be looking to court. They also storyboard their brand journey via twitter, instagram, facebook and their blog. A relationship with a blogger raises awareness in a more intimate way then straightforward advertising or editorial. It sets the tones, paves the way and leads the conservation in a way that mainstream media lacks the resource, creativity or flexibility to do so.
You know it’s not just me who is pissed off these bloggers are too:
and
Are you a blogger? Does this piss you off?
Use the #BrandsStopExploitingBloggers – write the post and link us all together. Let’s get this show on the road.
Soon the blogger will have to publicly name and shame brands and agencies – let’s face it we are talking £100s not £1000s – how much is reputation worth?
The post #BrandsStopExploitingBloggers Working For Money – Join the cause! appeared first on Modern Military Mother .
May 1, 2014
Real Life: Shortlisted for the Brilliance in Blogging Brit Mums Innovate Award #BIBS2014
A Modern Military Mother has been shortlisted for the Brilliance in Blogging Awards 2014. It came as a massive shock to me because I had decided that I was done with pimping my arse out all the time and so thought fuck it I am not going to enter this year and I was thinking about not even going. And then knock me down with a cotton picking feather I only bloody well go and get shortlisted anyway! So there we have it – destiny and now obviously I have to go!
Now I need to you to please sodding well vote me:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BiBs2014Shortlist
I haven’t been blogging in the way that I used to. These daily updates on the evolution and progress of the children and my life. People are always asking me are you and Hagar back together. And the answer is ‘no’. But we are working together to raise our children so I guess we sit in a no man’s land where we can only slowly move forward but we can’t go back. Our children on the other hand are blossoming! And that makes it all worthwhile for me. Every step of the way when I see my children happy and secure I know that I have made the right choices and decisions for them. It is for them that we are united and agreed.
The Menace turned 6 years old yesterday – can you Adam and Eve it? She was only 2 years old when I started blogging. She loves her birthday. It is the highlight of her year, second only to Christmas. She is still a Menace and is stealthily creating havoc and mahem. She likes to pick holes in the wall plaster, put lipstick on her lips and kiss the walls and twice she has cut her own fringe to Audrey Tatou levels of shortness. But she is adorable and has a very cute little lisp. She is a girly, girl and for her birthday she had a prayers answered with a Barbie Jeep, a Monster High scooter, some purple doll thing, a doll with a dolphin and surf board, unicorn stuffer cushion, a Minnie Mouse school bag and Frozen jigsaw puzzles. Then to school armed with a sweetie cake. After school was her first ever haircut at a salon where it was washed, cut and blow dried. I had crossed the threshold where we could get away with an £8 hatchet job at the Blue Banana barber and also we had to somehow resolve the self cut fringe.
Then off we shopped to buy her a new hamster.
The new hamster has been a while coming. Especially as the previous hamster met an untimely demise after the Menace and her friend played a game of ‘bounce the hamster’ unbeknownst to me. It has been hugely contentious as has actually cost me one of my oldest friendships when she posted on Facebook details comparing the Menace to a sociopath and then connecting her to the killers of Jamie Bulger – there is no coming back from that and I see it now as a sign to move on. And so after lots of tears and lots of investigation, we were able to determine that it was in fact a genuine mistake and not some first foray into animal torture. This incident occurred before Christmas and we are confident that 5 months on the Menace is ready to care for another hamster. Welcome Sammy!
The Grenade, who is now 10 years old, has settled well into the local school and is looking forward to moving on to my old school next year. I can’t believe that he is going to the same school as me. In a gazillion years I never would have had me back in Wiltshire but here I am and I love it. I aiming to stay put for a while. It’s great knowing that I won’t be moving around anymore. It’s time to build my empire and let the kids make some friends.
I am releasing the French version of A Modern Military Mother – Tales of the Domestic Frontline in about two weeks – it coincides with Hagar departing on Execrcise Rochambeau – a joint exercise with the French that takes place in the Champagne region for two weeks. It’s lots of tanks and soldiers.
After this I will be preparing the release of my second book – ‘I Hate Housework’ by Clare Macnaughton. Initially it was going to be an extension of Tales from the Domestic Frontline but now I have decided to just publish all of the unpublished pieces of work that I have written over the years, which presents this very unique autobiographical look at my life. Weird shit happens in my life and it hasn’t been dull. I was sat with a good friend who had just discovered that her husband was a philandering mother fucker and we were both trying to work out when our lives transitioned into episodes of a soap opera. It was never part of the plan. But so you have it – my life is a soap opera and since I was 2 years old there has been something written on it’s evolution and so now I am putting it together and publishing it. I can bring this material to you because of my wordpress blog, which is now nearly 4 years old and the Great Sith Lord Amazon that facilitates Independent Publishing.
There is not a publishing house on the planet that would publish ‘I Hate Housework’ and I no longer care. I have an audience that wants to read it and it may not be in the thousands but it’s better than leaving it all unread. Watch this space – it’s taking time because I have to transcribe from handwritten notes!! Yes, that is how old the copy is I actually wrote it with a pen!
The post Real Life: Shortlisted for the Brilliance in Blogging Brit Mums Innovate Award #BIBS2014 appeared first on Modern Military Mother .
April 30, 2014
Steal their style: The best celebrity mum looks
There are always those mums who just look effortless, no matter what time you bump into them, whether it’s at the school gates, the summer fete or at the park. While most of the time, it’s easiest just to throw on a pair of boyfriend jeans, a slouchy tee and a pair of biker boots or Converse before running out of the door, making sure you’ve got homework, PE kits and packed lunch with you, there are some celebrity mum wardrobes that it’s impossible not to covet. Here are just some of the star mums with styles it’s easy to steal.
Naomi Watt’s Breton-striped top
Breton stripes are always a staple, adding an air of nonchalant classic style, whether you’re on the French Riviera or just heading off to do the weekly food shop. And, they’ve gained even greater popularity of late, as Kate Middleton has donned a succession of these striped pieces during her official trip to New Zealand. One of Kate’s tops was from Me+Em, although you might find it has sold out now, as with everything the Duchess wears in the public eye. There are lots of similar pieces for sale across the high end and the high street though.
Claudia Schiffer’s checked shirt
It’s probably hard to have a day when you don’t look good if you’re one of the original supermodels. But Claudia Schiffer’s style is actually one of the easiest to steal for us mere mortals. To get a cooler look for summer, opting for a sleeveless style gives the same feel for warmer weather. Team with high-waisted jeans and a pair of tan sandals and you’re good to go.
Jessica Alba’s chinos
A pair of chinos are a great alternative to jeans for a casual day look. If you’re doing the school run, you could team with a pair of white Converse or Vans. Then, if you’re heading straight into work, it’s easy to swap for a pair of courts and don a blazer so you’re smart enough for the office. Dockers are the iconic all-American brand for chinos, and this pair is ideal for turning up at the hemline to get an on-trend look.
Victoria Beckham’s hem-drop dress
While Spice Girl-turned designer Victoria Beckham is usually known for wearing body-skimming styles and skyscraper heels, she’s been dressing more casually of late, and her spring/summer collection is testament to that. While she would never dress down as such, her drop-hem dresses are a playful way to get her style. La Redoute’s three-quarter length dropped-hem dress is a much more wearable piece than Victoria’s, which swamps her tiny frame. It’s also in the must-have shade of the season, a mustard yellow. You could wear with tan brogues and a satchel bag for the school run or a shopping trip.
Stella McCartney’s cute summer dress
Designer Stella McCartney has previously described herself as “embarrassing” to her kids when she does the school run. But, she’s anything but, given that she tends to stick to a tried and tested wardrobe of jeans tucked into boots for the winter and pretty floral or striped dresses for summer. Fever Designs has a good selection of pretty tea dresses, including this one with white and yellow flowers against a navy background.
They’re all very covetable, but very wearable, pieces that just go to show you don’t have to be a celebrity to let a little bit of their style rub off on your day-to-day wardrobe.
The post Steal their style: The best celebrity mum looks appeared first on Modern Military Mother .
April 28, 2014
High Flight – Rest in Peace #RIP
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, –and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of –Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air…
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew –
And, while with silent lifting mind I‘ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
By
Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr
On Saturday we received the terrible news that a Lynx helicopter had crashed with five fatalities. The news hung over Hagar and I, this weekend, as the story unravelled. It’s a chilling reminder of the fragility of our lives. Within the community the news of the fallen hits us hard. Especially when it touches us so closely. Hagar was stationed at RAF Odiham for 7 years. He knew the pilot. Not well, but they had worked together on occasion. On Sunday, Hagar posted High Flight by John Gillespie Magee, Jr on his Facebook page in loving memory. It is a beautiful response to the tragedy. It’s always hard to confront the reality of losing colleagues, friends, peers; especially for those who fly and face the daily dangers. I sit on the sidelines and watch; but I feel it too in some way. All the years of holding my breath, waiting for the danger to safely pass. Each trip and each safe landing brings internal relief that we can move forward through another day. Always living life, one day, even one step at a time. My thoughts are with the friends and families of those men killed in the Lynx on Saturday.
May they rest in peace.
Capt Thomas Clarke
WO2 Spencer Faulkner
Cpl James Walters
L/Cpl Oliver Thomas
Flt Lt Rakesh Chauhan
The post High Flight – Rest in Peace #RIP appeared first on Modern Military Mother .
April 24, 2014
Hilarious Nutty Noah at Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire 3rd May, 11am Book Now
Us Trois Presents
Hilarious Children’s Entertainer & Proud Pant Wearer Nutty Noah
‘Magic, Music & Mayhem!’
at Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire
11am 3rd May 2014
Tickets £6 on the door
Local event company, Us Trois set up by two mums, Teresa Poolman and me are pleased to present hilarious children’s entertainer and proud pant wearer, Nutty Noah, at the performance hall of the multi-million pound refurbished Salisbury school Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Westwood Rd, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 9HS.
Hilarious clip of Nutty Noah show at Centerparcs. Book tickets NOW
Book tickets via Eventbrite – BUY HERE
The schools impressive facilities are available for commercial hire to people and business so newly formed event company, Us Trois, decided the fully equipped 308 seat performance theatre was the perfect venue to bring to the people of Salisbury the fantastic, hilarious, magician and entertainer, Nutty Noah.
Nutty Noah entertains families regularly at Longleat Forest Centerparcs, Warminster, Wiltshire, has appeared on Britain’s Got Talent and will soon be seen on CBBC’s The Slammer. His show in a Nutty Noah nutshell is a ton of ‘Magic, Music & Mayhem!’ There is lots of audience participation, magic tricks, balloon modelling, juggling, music, poetry and he sings some very funny songs about pants, poo, sick and sweets. Absolutely no educational content and that’s guaranteed!
Now all that needs to happen is for Us Trois to entice the marvelous families of West Wiltshire to come aboard Nutty Noah’s ark of ‘Magic, Music & Mayhem’.
Book today.
Tickets available on the door or in advance at:
Eventbrite.co.uk Nutty Noah@Sarum Academy
Email – clare@maccom.co.uk
Mobile: 07885 194188
Everyone is available for interviews.
About Nutty Noah
Noah (Nutty) Kelly a really funny children’s entertainer from Weston Super Mare.
Contact:
Website: http://www.nuttynoah.com/
Email: noah@nuttynoah.com
Tel: 01934 733830
Mob: 07595 183507
About Us Trois
A Wiltshire based event company set up by two mums, Clare Macnaughton and Teresa Poolman created to deliver cost effective, good value events for local people.
Contact:
Email: clare@maccom.co.uk
Mobile: 07885 194188
About Sarum Academy Lettings
Sarum Academy is a thriving Community & Sports venue 3 miles from the centre of Salisbury. The academy offers a wide selection of activities for all ages as well as a range of excellent facilities, which are available to hire at competitive prices. The lettings centre is run by a friendly and highly motivated team who are always ready to help. Sarum Academy has a wide range of facilities, which are available to hire during evenings, weekends and school holidays. Facilities include a Large Sports Hall, a Small Sports Hall, a magnificent 308 seat Performance Hall, a Hair and Beauty Salon, multimedia facilities, a Motor Mechanics Workshop, Art Studios, Drama Studio and an Activities Studio. A variety of new outdoor sports facilities for football, cricket, rugby, netball will be available later in 2014.
Contact:
Email: lettings@sarumacademy.org.uk
Telephone: 01722 342434
The post Hilarious Nutty Noah at Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire 3rd May, 11am Book Now appeared first on Modern Military Mother .
April 9, 2014
Invest In Me
If I had £5000 to play with I would invest it in my next book ‘I Hate Housework’. A book is a business; a start up. I know that in order to drive sales and get the book into bookshops I need to be able to order a print run and invest in marketing.
It’s the law of speculate to accumulate. I know that if I had the funds I could pay a proofreader to ensure that it was error free, a graphic designer to deliver me an amazing cover. They say don’t judge a book by it’s cover but we do and a beautifully designed book cover makes a lasting impression.
I could buy my own ISBN and then perhaps persuade, Waterstones and other Independent bookshops to stock it. Perhaps, even a supermarket. Why not have big ambitions?
I could do a print run of over a thousand copies, which would mean that I could make a reasonable margin on each book sale. I could invest in some targeted advertising to raise awareness. Then the piece de la resistance is that I could arrange a book tour, where I get to engage directly with the customer and persuade them to buy into my book and I.
As I self published last year with Createspace and Amazon Kindle Direct I learnt so much about the business of publishing. As book sales plummet it’s a thankless ambition to be a writer. The medium of writing itself isn’t dying as digital content is still read but books and stories are being conveyed by different more popular visual mediums. The timeless trade of storytelling and writing has not yet died a death but it is fading away and so to ensure that my next book ‘I Hate Housework’ has a fighting chance really I need to invest some money into it but alas today, I don’t have the pennies I need so I may need to look at short term loan options such as those provided by Everyday Loans.
The post Invest In Me appeared first on Modern Military Mother .
April 4, 2014
Real Life: Food is the Food of Love
I love food. I am without doubt a foodaholic, although I have never considered myself a foodie. According to Wikipedia a foodie is “a foodie is a gourmet, or a person who has an ardent or refined interest in food and alcoholic beverages. A foodie seeks new food experiences as a hobby rather than simply eating out for convenience or hunger. While gourmet and epicurean can be used as synonyms they have fallen out of favour and bring to mind a stodgy or snobbish attitude.”
I don’t define myself in this manner because it’s too restricting and it sounds like a lot of effort.
But having said that I love good food and so was pleased to go and test drive the menus of the five star hotel Berwick Lodge’s new chef Paul Marshall, a semi-finalist of MasterChef the professionals. Berwick Lodge itself is set off the beaten track on the edge of Bristol. It’s a large foreboding gothic building privately owned by Sarah and Fevzi Arikan. They have dressed the hotel in large flamboyant pieces, with a style that would not be lost on the Hollywood Hills in the 1950s creating a unique, luxurious, boutique feel. The staff add a soupcon of punk serving customers in various styles, colours and shine of Doc Martens boots. With large sumptuous bedrooms, the hotel is warm cosy and friendly. It seemed rude not to make the most of the large bath, with lots of bubbles and a fresh glass of Viognier before dinner.
Now as non-foodie food lover, I have never really eaten the sort of gourmet food where science and art are combined to create dinner. I have always opted for more robust and hardy eateries in the past. It was a new experience for me. The starters alone took me into new territory, but at the same time felt simple and straightforward. I could have eaten them all. Goat’s cheese cannelloni with shaved walnut, honey and mix beetroots or hand-dived scallops with pumpkin and pine nut praline, volouté of black and wild garlic with Aylesbury snails, pan-fried mullet with bouillabaisse sauce, handmade linguini and squid rings. I was pretty sure I was going to have the scallops and then at the last minute I opted for Torchon of duck liver with rhubarb, pain d’epicas crumb and champagne vinegar. I have to say that it was divine. The toast was light and crunchy, the pate airy, creamy, not too rich beautifully accompanied by the fresh sour sweetness of the rhubarb. It was superbly light; a delightful opener. I washed it down with a glass of chilled Espirit de Chevalier.
To follow there was a choice of Madgett’s farm free range chicken, truffle potato, wild leeks and spring onion, or slow cooked veal Osso Buco with potato boulangere and shallot marmalade. Perhaps a Pan fried Atlantic cod, octopus carpaccio with kohlrabi and sauce noir, or even Royale of carrot, served with risotto cake, salsify chips and tarragon emulsion. But in the end I opted for Charcoaled lemon sole with pork cheek, purple sprouting broccoli and hazelnut dressing.
I have never eaten pork cheek, also known as chaps and I was keen to try it as I have some in freezer begging to be cooked. We have been keeping pigs for the last three years and my latest butcher prepared the cheeks for me. The sous chef popped out for a chat and apparently, pork chaps need to be slowly cooked in brine for up to 6 hours. I am quite excited about test driving them now that I have been given some top tips.
The lemon sole was incredible. The combination of flavours and textures catapulted me into a new eating experience. On the whole I like robust, cobbled together food, wholesome and hearty. Eating scientifically created food art was like opening the gates to food heaven. The entire dish was constructed as a whole entity, which required no extras. Each mouthful was an individual taste step on the overall journey. Pork cheek melted into the sole, with the fresh crunch of the perfectly cooked broccoli and the crisp nutty after bite of the hazelnuts.
I had barely any room for pudding, but the eating could not stop as Bacchus dominated my instincts. Should I have a pave of chocolate, blood orange and rapeseed gel and caramac? Perhaps a tarte fine of Granny Smith apple with yoghurt ice cream and caramel or a roast pineapple, parfait and coconut mousse. But in the end I had the banana and honeycomb soufflé with chocolate ice cream. It was dreamy pudding heaven. The tangy creamy bitter-sweet ice cream with the airy, cloudless finesse of honeycomb and banana soufflé which evaporated in your mouth.
To sleep perchance to dream. Replete. It was time for bed in the cavernous expanse of the colossal bed in the luxurious bedroom.
Of course, the morning came far too soon and although, I knew I shouldn’t because I had already consumed enough calories for the week, I just couldn’t resist the eggs benedict for breakfast.
Just one more wafer thin mint.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.berwicklodge.co.uk/
Berwick Lodge
Berwick Drive
Bristol BS10 7TD
T: 0117 958 1590
The post Real Life: Food is the Food of Love appeared first on Modern Military Mother .
April 3, 2014
Real Life: Down At The Skin Gym
Before
It’s impossible to defy the ageing process and to some extent as a woman that lives in a predominantly Aphrodite culture, where we must remain eternally youthful, slim and beautiful, it’s hard not to feel guilty for nature’s natural deterioration. But aside from the societal demands to stay youthful there is something to be said for skin maintenance.
I am a big believer in women, in particular, taking time out at the spa. Not to preserve their youth but to preserve their sanity. I find with two school age children I am constantly juggling my time, their time, my household commitments and my work commitments to ensure that our lives are delivered.
I visited the Bristol beauty salon, Beautology to try out revolutionary new skin work out: ‘My-Time’. As we get older we have problematic skin, reduced collagen production, poor skin texture, reduced facial muscle tone and other specific changes like excessive hair growth and vascular issues. The salon offers three stages of treatment to fight these factors; firstly the epidermis or top layer of skin requires resurfacing via the removal of blemishes then the dermis or next layer down needs to be stimulated, increasing collagen production, plumping and balancing oil production. Finally, the facial muscles will be given a workout to help restore muscle tone and lift.
Much like a gym membership, Beautology’s ‘My-Time’ offers all of the anti-ageing treatments offered at the medi-spa in one package at a fixed price. This is a 70 minute monthly visit to the salon where multiple prescription skin treatments will be administered . A personal consultant devises a bespoke skin workout to restore and rejuvenate the skin. In this new concept you are buying time and not treatments.
My personalised treatment consisted of the following:
Step one: Nlite skin rejuvenation:
The NLite is a pulsed-dye laser that uses very low power laser energy to ‘insult’ the fine blood vessels beneath the skin. These vessels, although not actually damaged, are tricked into behaving as if they were. Chemical signals are released that cause the body’s own repair and regeneration mechanism to begin a healing process, laying down new collagen in the treated area. The result is that, over time, lines and wrinkles reduce in depth and in the case of fine lines can disappear completely.
Because collagen is laid down slowly, there is no immediate effect. While this may seem like a disappointment, the gradual nature of the response is a blessing in disguise. Instead of having an obvious cosmetic change, your skin condition will slowly improve over time.
This treatment was quite painful. It felt like hot needles being injected rapidly and lightly into my skin. The creams and massage before and after, more than made up for the discomfort.
Step two: Transdermy
Transdermal ultrasound enables and faster and deeper penetration of products into the deeper layers of the skin giving maximum impact with no downtime! Transdermy, uses ultrasound waves to penetrate hydration and active ingredients 10 000 times deeper into the skin, helping to counteract the damaging effects of the environment on the cells.
Using Ultra sound waves utilised the skin’s water based ‘channels’ to increase the skin absorption of active ingredients. This method of delivery is faster and more effective than traditional ionthophoresis and can be used for skin revitalization treatments, cellulite treatments, pre laser applications, pre and post skin resurfacing procedures. It can be used as an alternative to injections for all mesotherapy applications, using a lower amount of product causing no traumas, injuries and irritations.
The Transderm is a powered delivery system that is indicated for the local administration of active ingredients into the skin and can be used as an alternative to injections.
This treatment felt more like a gentle exfoliation and didn’t cause any discomfort.
A few weeks on from the treatment my skin is glowing radiantly and feels rejuvenated. I love the concept of paying a monthly membership and having an hour and half of combined treatment each month.
Beauty treatments are good for the soul. They force us to take much needed time out of our day where we just sit and chill. With the pressure of keeping so many balls in the air I think it’s important that we invest in our sanity each month if we can.
After – my skin is glowing
To find out more visit: Beautology
107 Coldharbour Road
Westbury Park
Bristol
BS6 7SD
Tel: 0117 9500 500
Opening Times
Mon-Fri 9.30-8pm
Sat 9.30-4.30pm
The post Real Life: Down At The Skin Gym appeared first on Modern Military Mother .
March 26, 2014
Five Science Exhibits Your Children Will Love
Eden Project
Cornwall’s Eden Project is an iconic series of biodomes which house numerous types of plants sourced worldwide. Opened in 2001, the Project is visited by tens of thousands of visitors annually, and also hosts concerts, periodic exhibits and seasonal attractions such as ice rinks and social projects. There are hundreds of things to see and do, and visitors often return many times to see the changing face of the Project and learn about the new research that takes place each year. Kids will love the diverse plants, architecture and sculptures, and can engage with the centre in dozens of ways. In a time where only a few providers are fighting rising electricity prices, the Eden Project is also fully reliant on green Tariff electricity as part of its mandate.
Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)
Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) comprises a host of interactive exhibits and displays housed across several huge warehouses. These include: an air and space centre featuring vehicles from several centuries and a planetarium; exhibitions in a former railway station; underground passageways and exhibits in a former sewer; historic buildings which incorporate hands-on exhibits related to energy and electricity; and much more. MOSI is open year round and is free to enter. There are periodic touring exhibits at a small cost, including a recent Doctor Who display. While not as large or comprehensive as London’s Science Museum, MOSI has an extremely friendly and welcoming atmosphere designed to maximise your enjoyment.
EUREKA National Children’s Museum
The EUREKA children’s museum near Halifax is one of Yorkshire’s most exciting visitor attractions. Featuring hundreds of interactive exhibits, the museum spans more than 13 acres, and has both indoor and outdoor attractions to keep its visitors occupied. There is a multi-sensory Wonder Walk trail, sound gardens, a recently launched exhibit with a human body theme, and much more. The attraction has cafes and shops, and caters well for groups and for disabled visitors.
Jodrell Bank
The iconic Lovell Telescope has featured prominently on television in shows such as ‘Stargazing: Live’ and ‘The Sky at Night’ and is just one of many exciting attractions at the Cheshire space centre. Kids will love the many interactive exhibits and hands-on displays and can combine fun with education about space and our Solar system in particular. There are outdoor spaces and an arboretum for everyone to enjoy. Visitors can get up close and personal with the Lovell Telescope and learn about the many historic discoveries made at Jodrell Bank.
Magna Science Adventure Centre
Located in Rotherham, the Magna science centre is a family day out boasting hundreds of exhibits and things to do. One of the major attractions is a spectacular adventure playground with many unique play structures. There are several pavilions filled with exhibits across themes such as Earth, Air and Fire. There is a wet play area ideal for the warmer summer months, and the site regularly hosts new exhibits and one-off events. You can even book the venue for birthday parties!
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