Mintycoco - Oil Pulling For Healthier, Whiter Teeth

I'm a big fan of natural ways to replace the chemical laden products that tend to fill our bathroom and a while ago I read about the new (old) craze for oil pulling.

Prior to my second attempt at oil pulling

Oil pulling is an ancient Indian method of cleaning your mouth and teeth by swishing a tablespoon of various oils around your mouth for anywhere between 5-15 minutes - and then spitting it out.

The theory is that the oil will take with it any nasty bacteria lurking which will not only improve your oral hygiene but will also help prevent a range of illness that may go on to affect your body too.

Having had dodgy gums for quite a while, I thought I'd give it a go and started off by using sesame oil.

The sensation of having a mouthful of oil does feel a bit odd but after a few days I noticed that my teeth were cleaner and my gums a little more pink.

Then I tried pure coconut oil which was a little more difficult because it is solid at room temperature and, surprisingly, doesn't taste all that coconut-y.

But I had read that coconut oil has a range of additional benefits to some of the other oils, so I persisted with my new routine.

It is quite difficult spending 15 minutes with a mouthful of oil whilst trying to get the kids ready for school and having to gesticulate wildly that "mummy can't speak for the next 15 minutes"!

The downside was that I found my facial muscles ached.  And the ache would last for several hours.

I have problems with my jaw joint - a condition known as Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome  (or TMJS) which means that over exertion of the joint can lead to facial pain.  My TMJS is mild compared to some of my fellow sufferers whose lives are made extremely difficult by this very painful condition.

So,  I gave the oil pulling a miss.

Recently I started to read about Mintycoco - who make a product which combines virgin coconut oil and peppermint essence specifically for oil pulling.

The product comes in individual sachets pre-measured which is a great help because the books I have on oil pulling specify anywhere between a teaspoon or two up to 1-2 tablespoons of oil.  It was difficult to get the right quantity.

I thought I'd give oil pulling another go.

You simply pull the top of the individual sachet and push the oil into your mouth.  Because it's been quite cold, the coconut oil was solid and I found you have to mash it a bit between your teeth until the oil liquifies and you can start slooshing it around your mouth.

Rather than the typically bland taste of the pure coconut oil, Mintycoco has a pleasant, although slight, minty taste.

It is recommended that you swish for between 5-15 minutes, although I'm not convinced 5 minutes will do much.

After you have finished you have to spit the oil into the bin, not down the sink where it will block the drains.  I have to say this is the least appealing aspect of the process for me.

Mintycoco also suggest that you use the product before cleaning your teeth in the morning or evening, although the books I have read on the subject suggest that oil pulling replaces the traditional brush / paste.

Unfortunately, after my second attempt, my jaw started to play up and it was back to the toothbrush for me.

I am really disappointed about this because Mintycoco is a good quality, pleasant tasting and very convenient product.  You could easily take a few sachets on holiday with you for example - whereas lugging a huge jar of coconut oil would be a bit of a pain!

As Mintycoco say, the natural lauric acid found in coconut oil has been proven to be antibacterial and can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi in your mouth.  It can also help reduce plaque and freshen breath.  Devotees also report brighter, whiter teeth after longer term use.

If you have read about oil pulling and fancy giving it a try, that I'd recommend you give Mintycoco a go.  It's a very easy way to start and to see if you can work oil-pulling into your daily routine.

Mintycoco are currently offering a 3 day trial at a reduced price of £7, otherwise a 14 day supply will cost £23.99.

I would say, though, that if you are prone to having jaw problems, oil pulling might not be for you.

You can find out more about Mintycoco and oil pulling on their website at www.mintycoco.com, on Facebook or Instagram.

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"The Aha! Factor - The Intuitive Guide For Getting What You Desire & Deserve" & Giveaway

As readers of this blog know, the self-help / personal development book genre is one of my all-time favourites and I fear the unstable mounds of books by the side of my bed are about to get even bigger now that I have discovered Watkins Publishing who specialise in precisely this type of book.

The Aha! Factor by Mariana Cooper

They very kindly sent me a copy of a fascinating book by Mariana Cooper entitled "The Aha! Factor - The Intuitive Guide For Getting What You Desire & Deserve".

Mariana Cooper is a 3rd generation intuitive, thought leader and visionary mentor who has her own radio and TV shows, as well as hosting telesummits that reach over 85 countries across the world.

She has also been an Angel Therapy Practitioner and certified Advanced Medium with Dr. Doreen Virtue for over 10 years and has performed thousands of readings and coaching sessions.

In "The Aha! Factor", Mariana shows us how we use those random, momentary experiences of knowing to get in touch with our "Aha! Factor" - that force which gives us the true direction we want to follow and which is best for us.

We've all had those "gut feelings" where something doesn't feel right.  Haven't you sometimes met somebody and just known they were either a friend for life or someone to avoid at all costs?  It would be very handy if we could tune into these feelings and come up with a strategy to use this inner knowledge to benefit us.

Mariana clearly outlines the tools we have at our disposal to do just this.  She teaches us how to tap into our own Energetic System of Communication (ESC).

This consists of

- our intention
- our intuition
- our telepathic ability to both send and receive
- our channelling ability to both send and receive

and

- our capacities to receive and perceive both physical and energetic information in combination with each other so that we can navigate our world with greater ease.

One of the most chapters I found most interesting was one of 50 easily recognisable signs and symbols which help you to know that you are in touch with your Aha! Factor.

For example:-

* receiving a phone call or text message from someone you were only just thinking about

* seeing the same numbers over and over - for example if you keep seeing 888 abundance and prosperity are yours now  (I'm looking for that one, believe me!)

* smelling the scent of a loved one's scent or cologne when they are not there

* turning on a movie just when a line of dialogue is spoken that is applicable to your situation

The world whispers to us in many ways if only we would tune in - and that is what this book teaches us to do.

I really enjoyed it and you can buy a copy at Amazon.co.uk.  I also have one copy to give away.  Just enter via the Rafflecopter in the usual way.  UK entrants only and terms and conditions apply.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 13th May 2016.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

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Is Commenting On Our Baby Bump Unacceptable?

There have been quite a few articles lately along the lines of "things not to say to a pregnant woman".

Your baby bump will attract interest

Why is it, having spent months and sometimes years trying to conceive and at a time when surely there should be celebration and congratulations, some expectant mums seems to join the ranks of the professionally offended and regard any casual comment or glance at their baby bump as a social faux pas of such magnitude that it borders on an insult?

I remember being about 4-5 months pregnant with Caitlin, having spent a good year or so trying to conceive after a miscarriage.  The Husband took me to a local Italian restaurant and we asked for a table for 2.  "3, surely" said the waitress with a smile.  I was absolutely delighted.

There's no denying that pregnancy, and particularly the early stages, can be a rough time for lots of us.  Your hormones are all over the place.  You are too big for your old clothes and too small for maternity wear.  You're still in the "intensive research phase" of working out what you can and can't eat and are totally enthralled by the changes appearing in your body on an almost daily basis.

When you get to that blooming, glowing phase where your baby is developing fine, your scans are OK, you are happily nesting and putting plans in place for your new arrival, then others may notice and comment on your contentment.  It's human nature, surely, to be fascinated by the most wonderful thing our bodies can do.

I do understand that, for some, any intrusion into their personal space may make them feel uncomfortable.  And to have your bump clumsily prodded without asking you is a little rude.  But an interest in pregnancy is surely the most natural thing in the world.

Of course some will want to touch your bump and see the baby kicking.  Seeing a foot push out of your belly is amazing.  Ieuan used to move about so much it looked like he was doing a Mexican wave.

Yes, you will be inundated with advice, much of it based on old wives' tales, but most of the time, people are just showing an interest and for the rest of it, they are not sure what to say.

But to be offended by questions like "have you chosen names, what are they?" or advice such as "sleep when the baby sleeps" seems a little extreme.  Questions such as "are you going to breast-feed?" and "will you be having a natural birth", on the other hand are going too far.

Pregnancy is a stressful time but I think you have to let others in a little.

Having had my kids so late, I was well aware that both my natural pregnancies were miraculous and that I was extremely lucky to have the experience of motherhood.

There are thousands of women struggling to conceive, and some you probably know quite well, who would give anything for someone to comment on their growing baby-bump.

And if you think some of the things said to an expectant mum are beyond the pale, trust me, the some of the things said to us older mums are far worse!

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20 Easy Ways To Recharge Your Batteries

We all have days when things don't entirely go to plan or we wake and find we just feel 'blah'.

Those of us who bear the strain of a chronic or auto-immune illness may start each day from a position of compromised energy and it may be a struggle to even get to 'blah'.

Take some time out to recharge your batteries

At times like this, having a strong support network of friends and family is invaluable and the phone can be our greatest ally. Even the often maligned Facebook can offer a lifeline of community, friendship and seasoned advice.

It is also important to treat ourselves with kindness and to know when we need a break.  It is not a crime to take our needs seriously.  As the saying goes, you need to apply the oxygen mask to yourself first before you can save anyone else - and this is particularly true for parents.

I'm sure you will have your own list but here are 20 easy suggestions to press the pause button in your life and to take some time out to reconnect with what's important to you and your feelings - and to make sure you are treating both your mind and body with care.

1.  Say no.  Remind people that 'no' doesn't necessarily mean 'never', but at the moment it means 'not now'.

2.  Call a friend or relative you can trust.

3.  Lose yourself in your favourite TV box set (mine is the Poirot series).

4.  Read a really gripping book.  Here's a review of the last one I read.

5.  Learn a new skill - both dancing, table tennis and learning a new language have recently been shown to keep our brains young and stave off dementia.

6.  Take a long, hot bath.  You could try an Epsom Salt bath which is great for renewing our Magnesium levels.  A magnesium deficiency can be the cause of tiredness.

7.  Turn your gadgets off for a while.  The world will not implode.  Even if you turn email and Facebook notifications off you may feel less frazzled.

8. Try some adult colouring or dot-to-dot.  There are loads of books available.  In fact so many of us are colouring, we are facing a global shortage of coloured pencils!

9.  Create a vision board on Pinterest.  If you haven't got into Pinterest yet, you may be surprised at how easy it is to use and how addictive.  You basically create online pinboards containing your favourite images and you swop and share images by following others just as you do on Facebook and Instagram.

A vision board is a visual wishlist of all the things you'd like to have or experience and, so the theory goes, by regularly viewing your vision board, you are more likely to bring the things you want directly into your experience.

10.  Ditch the black - it's so easy to dress in black because we think it's slimming or it helps us blend into the background but we know that colour lifts both our mood and that of the people looking at us.

Why not add a dash of a bold colour into your wardrobe - a hot pink, yellow or orange.  Black can be pretty ageing, especially around the face whilst a splash of colour can throw a flattering light on our complexions.  This, by the way, is why ladies used to wear pearls - to light up their skin.

11. Do some yoga, pilates or some gentle stretches.  You don't have to go to a class to get the benefit as there are loads of good DVDs.  As you get older, you might find 10 minutes of stretching each morning 'unkinks' your body from your night's sleep and prepares you for the day.

12.  Meditate.  Just 10-20 minutes a day has been proven to give long-term benefits to our health. There are many guides to meditation online and I have also heard good things about the Headspace app which offers guided meditation if you just find it too difficult to ignore your thoughts.

13. Take some photographs - just photographing your kids, your pets, your garden, the sky, anything that gives you joy, will lift your spirits. You can share your world via Instagram and, if you use the right hashtags, you may find many others who share your particular interests.  Did you know, for example that there is a hashtag called #catsofinstagram?

14.  Take a nap.  Not exactly rocket science I know but it comes back to taking time out for YOU and not being afraid to assert your needs.  The theory goes that anything between 20-45 minutes is a sensible amount of time.  Any longer and you'll probably wake up feeling groggy.

15.  Eat something.  Seriously.  If you have been fuelling yourself on carbs and sugar all day, try a high protein snack - a handful of Almonds or some cubes of Cheddar Cheese and some apple.  Try some Green Tea for a slightly healthier caffeine drink or just a long glass of water.

16.  Write a gratitude list.  I know, I know, it might sound a bit 'woo-woo' but you'll find that there is truly a lot we can all be grateful for, right now.

17. Do something nice for someone else.  I read this week about a lady who was buying an In Sympathy card for a relative since there had been a bereavement in her family. She was surprised to find a small plastic envelope in the card she selected.  In the envelope was £10 and a note from a stranger saying "I am sorry that you are having to buy this card.  Please take this £10 and do something nice for yourself".  I image that stranger felt as good making that gesture as the lady who received the envelope did.

18. Do some baking.  In her book "Saved By Cake", the writer Marian Keyes describes how baking helped her to deal with her depression.  You may find it helps you - in which case, worry about the calories later and get creative with the butter icing.

19.  Pray. Although many of us no longer adhere to a formal, organised religion, there is a lot to be said about asking for what we want and putting the future in the hands of a higher power - whether that be God or the Universe.  Just ask, let go and then go about your day.  Even better if you can sit in a sacred space, whether that be a church, a garden or a quiet place you've made your own.  Why not light a candle and spend some time thinking about what it is that you really want and need.

20.  Declutter.  There's a wonderful book about domestic cleaning called "Sink Reflections" by "Flylady"  She recommends doing something called the "27 Fling Boogie".  Get a black bag and run around your home selecting 27 things to go in the bin. Or you might prefer the more philosophical approach of Marie Kondo in her book "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up".  Either way, a good sort out tends to clear the mind and give you something else to focus on.

So there you have it. 20 simple ways to recharge your batteries. What do you do to make yourself feel better?

Let me know in the comments below

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Make Your Bay Windows More Beautiful with Curved Radiators

Bay windows are a delightful feature in any home but until now they have also tended to limit the number of heating options available, especially when it comes to fitting the right type of radiator.

Image by Thomas Heyman via Flickr

With the advent of the curved radiator such concerns are truly a thing of the past. Curved radiators are well-designed and efficient and they also come with a dazzling array of colours, finishes and features that can really help lift a tired room to new heights.

Heating Problems Solved With Curved Radiators 

As many home owners with bay or curved windows have realised, it can be very difficult to find a radiator that strikes a balance between functionality, aesthetic form and a minimal footprint.

Large traditional radiators look obtrusive and clunky and due to the unusual angles inherent with bay windows, they tend to be installed too far into the room, stealing precious space.

The ideal radiator placement is below the windowsill or as close to a wall as possible. Bay windows and straight lined radiators have tended to make this difficult to achieve.

Curved radiators easily solve this dilemma because they have been designed to fit into spaces that are also curved. This non-linear solution is ideal because annoying dead space is no longer an issue and the room can also be properly heated and enjoyed as it should be.

A Look For Every Taste 

Curved radiators come in an incredible array of colours and finishes, meaning that there is certain to be something to suit every design situation. Whether your taste is classic and ornate, minimalist, sleek and streamlined or loud, bold and contemporary, the range of looks and materials on offer at Radiator Curving Ltd. makes it easy to find a perfect match.

Just a few of the finishes include subdued ivory, gold, copper and bronze metallic sheens, summery fresh yellows or stark blacks and charcoal greys.

Textured surfaces are also available that can help complement fabrics, furnishings and featured décor and there is even a pressed metal scrolled look that just oozes class and style.

Create A Cosy Reading Nook 

These beautiful curved radiators are so well-made that it would be a pity to hide them away but some people choose to do exactly that. With a bit of creative carpentry many home owners have built enclosures around their radiators which still allow their heat to be dispersed throughout the room, but also add an extra level of utility and flexibility to how the room can be used.

Reading nooks and window seats are a perennial favourite and coupling the right kind of radiator with the appropriate clearance and suitable timber, one can make a cosy seat over the top of the radiator right beside the bay window.

With adequate ventilation, such a set up can actually force the heat to be directed outwards instead of upwards and definitely makes for a toasty seat that takes the chill out of a cold winter’s day.

When seeking decorative heating solutions for bay windows, curved radiators are an innovation whose time has definitely arrived. These elegant and sturdy appliances will bring comfort, warmth and visual delight to any home in which they are installed.

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New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Linky 15 April 2016

It's that time of the week again and I hope you have found at least a little time to curl up with a good book.

I read John W Mefford's great new crime thriller "At Large" which had me gripped from start to finish.  It's about one of the most macabre serial killers you can imagine.  You can read my review here and there's a chance to win some of John's books too.

If you're reading pile is dwindling, why not have a look at the fab books on offer this week?

Sharing the Love of Books
Enjoy our selection of New Releases / Free & Bargain Books this week

Click HERE for this week's awesome selection.

Authors please feel free to add your own books
Readers please free to add your own finds
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...
Monday
 Life as Leels | IrishdaisylovesRomance | Book Babble | All Romance Reader
Tuesday
It's My Side of Life | Celticlady's Reviews | First Time Mommy Adventures | Bound 2 Escape
Wednesday
Beck Valley Books | A Library of Reviews | Cinnamon Hollow Reviews
Thursday
Miki's Hope | Taking Time for Mommy | Nicki's Nook
Friday
Ebook Addicts | I Love Romance | A Bit Bookish | Mother Distracted | Colorimetry
Saturday
Totally Addicted to Reading | 3 Partners in Shopping | Angie's Angle | I Creat Purty Thangs | Wishful Endings
Sunday
Lynchburg Mama | LibriAmoriMiei | Ali - The Dragon Slayer | Wondermom Wannabe | My Bizzy World |  Deal Sharing Aunt 

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author

For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author

For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 

For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Click HERE for this week's awesome selection.

And don't forget you can always add some of your own!

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At What Age Is It Safe For Your Child To Walk To School On Their Own?

With the happy news that 8 year old school boy Connor Beck has been found safe after going missing on his way to school, you can practically hear a collective sigh of relief from parents across the land.

When is the right age to let your child walk to school on their own?

Connor, for reasons yet unexplained spent his day yesterday hiding in a bush next to the school where he was found around 5 pm.  His disappearance had sparked a full scale police search.

But I'll bet his parents are today reviewing their decision to let him walk to school on his own.

This raises the obvious question - at what age is it safe to let your child walk to school alone?

Caitlin is 8 and Ieuan is 7 in June and although their school is a brief 10-15 minute walk away, there is no way I would let either of them go unaccompanied.

And, frankly, after the recent horror stories of April Jones and Milly Dowler, I think it may be a very long time indeed before I feel confident enough to let them go.

For a start, there is the danger from main road traffic, although there is a wonderful lollipop man (are we still allowed to call them that?) who is on patrol close to Caitlin's school.

Although Caitlin and Ieuan are in the same school, they are on different campuses with a 5 minute walk between them.  The daily start and finish times are staggered to allow time for parents and children to walk between the two sites.

Already some parents are letting their Year 3 children (who finish earlier) walk the 5 minute walk between the two sites to meet their parents and siblings, relying on the nous of the child and the supervision of the lollipop man.

There is no denying that, for the working parent, the school run is a hellish dash.  Parking around both school sites is restricted, although you get the usual crew who seem oblivious to the meaning of a double yellow line (the bigger the vehicle, the more colour blind they seem to be, I find).

You also get those who happily do a three point turn in the face of on-coming traffic, forcing everyone to slow down or take evasive action.

Even if it's pouring with rain, there is little point taking a car because parking is incredibly difficult.

Despite the fact that we are lucky enough to have a lollipop man, there have been at least 2 road traffic accidents involving injury to kids in the past year.

So whilst I understand the pressure, personally, I won't take the risk.

And then there is the risk of violent crime.  Now I know that statistically the likelihood of abduction or worse occurring is slim.  But how could you live with yourself if something did happen?  Even knowing it wasn't my fault, I would forever wish I had been there to protect my kids.

But we have to be pragmatic.  We are going to have to let them go at some point, aren't we?  We cannot keep them under house arrest in the event that something terrible may happen.

Already, kids spend too much time inside on iPads because many parents are too terrified to let them play outside unsupervised.

When I was my daughter's age, my sister and I spent most of our time cycling up and down the cul-de-sac we lived in.  The Husband used to play in a nearby quarry with his mates.

So what can we do?

- Teach your kids about "Stranger Danger"

- Consider enrolling your kids in a self-defence class like Tae Kwon-Do

- Buddy up with a fellow parent and keep a look out for each other's kids in the event that you're late picking them up

- Talk to the school about ways to get personal safety on the agenda

- Talk to the Council if street lighting is poor or inadquate

-  Talk to the school bus companies to check that drop off points are as safe as possible.

I am sure that there are many other things that could be done to improve safety for those kids who do walk on their own to school.

Whilst I am against giving young kids mobile phones due to the possible damage to their developing brains from handset radiation, this is one situation where a cheap pay-as-you-go handset may well be worth the risk.

I walked to school on my own when I was about 10 or 11 and that is quite early enough in my book. You may well feel differently or simply be unable to do the school run and get to work on time.

Employers need to step up to the plate here and examine how family-friendly they are.  I find that many firms will happily claim to be "family friendly" but it's a different matter if you have to be late a couple of mornings or have to leave because your child is sick.

Let's be honest.  There is absolutely no reason why many job roles need to be carried out between 9 am and 5 pm.  If you are in a sales role, then that is different but many administrative functions can be carried out on a more flexible schedule.

It might be worth talking to your Human Resources Department to see if there is anything that could be done to improve the flexibility of your working hours.

When to let your children walk to school on their own is a very personal (and tricky!) decision but if we talk to the schools, the council and the police (e.g. a local community police officer), much can be done to make things a little safer.

As parents, we should also be working together to look out for one another's children.

And we shouldn't be afraid to speak up and report anything we see that is even vaguely suspicious.

I bet little Connor Beck's parents are hugging him even tighter today.

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