People smile that little bit more, seem that bit more polite, more friendly, more talkative and generally nicer. It goes to show how much of a profound effect the daylight hours and bright skies have on people and their moods. Also, don’t forget that sunshine in moderation is good for healthy bones and can be of enormous help to those suffering from psoriasis. I know that my skin is less fiery after a 15 minute blast of sunshine.

Maybe next time the sun isn’t shining, we can all ‘pretend’ and try to project a more sunny disposition.
Let’s try it and see!

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I find that Halloween is a nice time to send a message to my loved ones in spirit and maybe light a candle in their memory. It is said in the Wiccan tradition that on Halloween, the veil between the living and the dead is at its best for spirit contact, so why not celebrate the lives of your departed loved ones and ancestors and have your own little ceremony.

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This article is copyright © 2012 

Now, this lovely lady is a beautiful 58 year old (she looks much younger!) who drinks the diet variety because she doesn’t want to put on weight, not for any health reasons such as diabetes. I cannot discuss her medical conditions because it would be unethical of me to do so, but there are alarm bells in her conditions which, if the reports are correct, could substantially affect her wellbeing.

There are two camps on this… Some say that Aspartame is the next best thing to the Anti-Christ, while others (particularly the manufacturers) will lead you to believe that it is completely safe.

I am not giving an opinion one way or the other as I am not qualified to do so, but I urge you to make up your own minds and carry out your own research on the subject. The main objective for this post is to raise awareness of the potential health risks and it is for you to decide whether you continue to use artificial sweeteners instead of natural.

I saw an interesting programme on TV recently (the name of which escapes me!) which tested the effects of sweetener and sugar on a person’s appetite. Interestingly enough, those using artificial sweeteners were less full than those using natural sugar products and therefore would actually eat more to try to stop their food cravings. Those using sweeteners purely as an aid for weight loss could actually find that they will gain weight by using artificial sweeteners!

So, good luck in your quest to find out the truth… One thing is for sure… I think i’ll stick to sugar!

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Yuk, what an unpleasant visitor to have… (I am sure I didn’t have bed bugs, but until I had thoroughly cleaned the bed, I couldn’t be absolutely sure!). So if you are unfortunate enough to encounter a visit from these little mosters, how do you get rid of them? They are not selective… They will attack the local B&B, the beds of the millionaire mansion owners, even the beds at the classiest five star hotel if they so choose! And it’s not just beds… They will live in your sofa, carpet, pet beds in fact anywhere they can find feasting material, which is pretty much all over a home. As these little beasts feed from our dead skin, there is always a plentiful supply of food for them.

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A really big THANK YOU to FreshlyPressed for creating my lovely web site. I think I have been the client from hell because after finishing a perfectly adequate site, I decided that I wasn’t really happy with it (my design, not theirs!) and without a moment’s complaint, they re-worked it and now my site is a thing of beauty!

Thanks guys… I couldn’t have done it without you….

If you would like a web site designed or need some professional help, contact freshlypressed.net. They are truly wonderful!

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I purchased my first batch of the powders and added them to water… Yuk (and that is putting it mildly!!) Yes, it smells and tastes just like pond scum! So I tried it in orange juice which, I have to say, is much better although you can still smell and taste it to a degree. However, I am very excited to reap the benefits of this miraculous food.

This is day four and I must say that I am feeling much more energised although I am weeing for England (which I put down to the detoxifying properties of the algae).

I will keep you informed of my progress as I go along and I am looking forward to adding some of this super powder to some of my skin products as well… .Exciting stuff!!!

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Redheads have a bad name in England and are often seen as spawns of the antichrist. But all that aside, the worst part about being a redhead [and I know, because I am one] is that when the sun comes out, I go inside. My country of birth and home for 40 years [Australia] was hot and tested my skin to the extreme. I spent months in hospital in my childhood days as a result of days spent too long in the sun and even as an adult could never escape the clutches of annual sunburn.

So it is great to read in ‘Skins Prone to Sunburn May Be Capable of a Normal Tan‘

…new research from the University of Bradford has found that redheads are just as capable of making the melanin needed for a tan as the olive skinned locals.

Reading through the whole article it would seem that it is still very early days, but I am hopeful for redheads in general that there may be a answer as to why we burn so easily, and more significantly, that from these findings, they may be able to find a cure that will help redheads to tan naturally too.

Do you have any advice for people who burn so easily Claudine?

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As a nation we spend thousands of pounds a year on beauty and skin care products and I would like to bet that hardly anyone is aware of the ingredients of their favourite creams and what they might do to your skin.

A massive 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body so it makes real sense to be aware of what you actually are subjecting your body to.

Doctor Hilary Jones (of TV and radio fame) was saying that we should all be aware of what these products contain and be more vigilant when buying skin care products.

And it doesn’t stop there. Once you start the process, you will inevitably become more aware of what you are eating too….

There is truth in the saying “You are what you eat” and we could add “You are what you put on skin” to that. (See my article on Propylene Glycol to give you just a small taster – and that is just one ingredient out of thousands of potentially dangerous ones).

Make a point of researching on the internet about the ingredients in anything you buy. Once you are aware of the good and bad guys you can become more choosy about the products you buy. Better still, try making your own as I do… I know EXACTLY what has gone into my products. They may not last as long as the shop bought varieties (because they contain no harmful preservatives!) but I wouldn’t go back to using brand name products now. I really have seen a remarkable change in my skin tone and overall skin health. A real plus is that it has gone a long way to soothing and clearing my psoriasis. So try or buy only natural skin products but before you do….. CHECK THE LABELS!!!

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It is gentle enough for babies and young children and is extremely calming for teething tots. Give them one teaspoon of cool tea at a time but as much as you like. Use chamomile in an infusion to help with insomnia or to relieve the symptoms of a fever. Chamomile is known as a cool herb which means that it is excellent for use in any illness with a fever, temperature etc.

Chamomile tea can be bought in teabag form in any supermarket and although it can have a bitter taste (use your local honey to sweeten if necessary – that way you will guard against the risk of developing hay fever as well!) it will grow on you! It is excellent for stomach disorders and will calm a gripey tummy and soothe cramping.

This article is copyright © 2012