Earlier this month, my family and I enjoyed a holiday in North Norfolk. We stayed in the beautiful, picturesque town of Wells-Next-The-Sea, and enjoyed walks along the seafront, days on the beach, and explored all sorts of hidden places and local nature reserves.
There is something about the beach, and the sea, that brings peace. I have to holiday by the sea in order to feel that I have enjoyed a break. I mean, I love the countryside, but we are fortunate to live among some beautiful forest land and green spaces in Cheshire. I like to explore further afield.
#MummyMonday Family Holiday in Dorset, England Rockpool on the Beach
Rockpools on Brancaster Beach
One day while on holiday, we visited Brancaster Beach. Owned by the National Trust, this hidden gem is absolutely gorgeous. You have a huge expanse of dry sand, then the wet sand when the tide retreats, and there is such an interesting mix of terrain to explore. We set up camp near the sand dunes, and my daughters and I set off to try and reach a shipwreck that we could see in the distance. A fellow beach visitor informed me that the boat was sunk on purpose for military training, but I haven’t yet explored that story further. Anyway, I was fascinated.
We never got close to the shipwreck because we were concerned about the tide turning. And besides, we got a little bit distracted by rockpools. There were several sea pools dotted about on the beach, and we had fun wading and splashing in the warm water. We even splashed about with tiny little fish that scattered around our feet. Then we explored rock pools with crabs and seaweed. I picked up what I thought was an empty shell at one point, only to disturb a tiny little crab. We put it back down again very quickly! I loved the colours of shells, pebbles and rocks that lined these pools we found, and I loved the undulations in the sand. I loved all of it. And so did my girls. We will return to Brancaster Beach one day…
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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Last week I finally got myself organised and took my children to try on and purchase the last few items of school uniform that we need for the new term.
And then I took them to Clarks to have their feet measured and get them fitted for school shoes. This is becoming an annual tradition for the Green family, much like it was for me and my siblings when we were children.
#MummyMonday Clarks Shoes Product Review for Kids School Shoes
My Review
I know that Clarks came under fire recently for the sexist portrayal of boys’ and girls’ shoes. While I accept that there should not be division in the styles of clothes and shoes that our children wear, I do find that both me and my girls prefer the traditionally female style of shoe. Whether it is ingrained in our culture, or a lifestyle preference, I don’t know. All I can say is that my daughters each chose a pair of school shoes that fit their feet comfortably, are sturdy enough for playtime at school, and look very nice. What more could we ask for?
Finally, I want to say how impressed I was with the efficiency of the Clarks shoe shop that we visited. I took my daughters to Cheshire Oaks which is fairly close to our home. It worked out a lot more cost effective to purchase two pairs of school shoes, and two new school bags, from the Clarks outlet store. Although the shop was insanely busy with parents and children all on the same mission, the staff were plentiful, organised and super-efficient. Our feet were measured in a little cabin outside the shop (brought in specially for school season), we were given the sizings on a slip of paper, and then we were assigned another member of staff to help with fitting. The whole process took us about half an hour, which I thought was fantastic. Well done, Clarks!
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This week I feel broken. There are many conflicting demands on my time at the moment, and I have had to let something lapse. That was my work.
While I am desperate to continue building my freelance writing business, and growing the audience for my novels, I just cannot do it all alone, and I do not have the means to pay someone else. So it will have to wait, while I tend to more domestic challenges.
LGBT fantasy book series set in Cornwall. “Love Hurts (The Redcliffe Novels)” #1 by Catherine Green.
When Life is a Challenge
My marriage is struggling due to my husband’s mental health condition. I cannot do more to help, so now I am helpless. The demon is winning this particular battle. But I will not be defeated. And I will not back down. My children are ready for school to resume (or in the case of my youngest daughter, start). They enjoyed our family holiday, we have had days out with friends, caught up with people we haven’t seen for a while. Now we need to move on.
In a fortnight’s time, all of this will be just a distant memory. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow. We might manifest that magical, elusive buyer for our house. My husband might suddenly and miraculously come to his senses and take control of his work/life (im)balance. I might land a lucrative freelance job that will both boost my self-confidence, give me a sense of purpose, and help to further my career. Or nothing could happen. We could simply stumble along, day after day, wondering when it will change. How is your summer?
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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We are back from our holiday, and a lovely one it was, too. I will be writing about our days at the beach soon enough, but for today I want to talk about energy, specifically, a very strange feeling that took hold at the weekend.
It sort of came to a head yesterday, when I found myself moping around the house, not knowing what to do. I just felt out of sorts, and I couldn’t explain it. There are a lot of emotional challenges in my life right now, so I thought it was those. But now I am not so sure.
#WitchyWednesday
It’s All A Little Bit Strange
You see, I learned that Mercury is in retrograde again, and I have picked up a few snippets of information online in my social networks. I read somewhere that now will be a time to learn the true nature of a person, or to see them in a different light. That struck a chord, and while I cannot go into detail, it helped me to make sense of something that happened recently. I also discovered that some of my friends are experiencing strange feelings and emotions that they cannot explain. They are already aware that it could be related to the planetary shift and the change of season.
We are in a state of a transformation, inside and out. You can see it all around us, in many ways. Eventually, my friends came to the rescue and gave my daughters and I a sociable outing. We went to a local park where there is open, green space, lots of room for the children to play, and the weather stayed dry and mild. After a couple of hours in the fresh air, I began to feel a whole lot better, and today I have woken up feeling much more life myself, instead of this strange, floating, confused creature that I was before.
Can you feel a shift in the energy around you? Have you been struggling with extreme emotions, increased agitation, or a feeling that something is just not quite right? Please do share your experiences, and be gentle with yourself.
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You must have already heard of Himalayan salt lamp, the latest trend among people that is indeed becoming increasingly popular. If you are wondering whether the Himalayan salt lamp is actually of any good or beneficial for your health and not just a mere decoration for your house then keep reading to find out more details on it!
To start with, before diving into the topic of the actual benefits of Himalayan salt lamps let’s first get an idea of what they are and how they are made.
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Benefits of the Himalayan Salt Lamp @ReviewsBee
The basis of these lamps, that is Himalayan sea salt is said to be comprised of the dried remnants of the primal sea that dates back to the very creation of the Earth. This might be half-true, half mythical but still sounds promising, doesn’t it? In both cases, the real fact is that Himalayan salt lamps are made of the pink Himalayan salt and people buy them so much not because they look very pretty when lit in the night-time but rather because they believe in the beneficial power of these lamps from a number of aspects.
So let’s get a closer look at the making process of these lamps.
Himalayan Salt Lamps – Mystery Revealed
Himalayan salt lamps are hand carved from solid Himalayan sea salt in the deep underground mines of Khewra, Pakistan. The latter is located on the western side of the Himalayan mountains which are the only natural source of genuine Himalayan pink salt. So what makes a solid salt into a lamp – when the salt block is hand-carved, it gets a deep hollowed-out place in its centre where a light-bulb is put making the salt into a beautiful lamp.
As for the colour of the lamps, it varies from light pink to orange depending on the mineral concentration. The lamps are themselves a good way of relaxation because just looking at light they emit can be very soothing and calming.
At this point it should also be mentioned that salt has a hygroscopic character i.e. it “catches the attention” of water molecules. The latter feature is attributed to Himalayan salt lamps too. So, it’s believed that as soon as the water molecules get in touch with the salt lamp, such pollutants as bacteria, mold and allergens get trapped in the salt. The cycle of attracting this water vapor continues due to the fact that lamp is heated which results in the drying of the salt.
Though there are no factual and scientific studies proving the beneficial character of Himalayan salt lamps, still, given the many other studies carried out on the health benefits of salt as well as the greatly positive feedback from the consumers we can freely assume that a Himalayan salt lamp does come with some really essential benefits.
Himalayan Salt Lamp Benefits
So, let’s now see what health and other benefits you’ll gain if you purchase a real Himalayan salt lamp:
Cleaner Air: This is probably one of the main reasons why people want to have a Himalayan salt lamp at their houses. Of course, you might say there are plants for that purpose but some people can be allergic to plants or simply too busy to take care of them, and if there is another, again a natural way of purifying the air in your house, why not use it? Himalayan salt lamps are able to keep the air at your place clean due to the water vapor character described above.
The Best Night Light You Can Ever Have: What’s better than having a natural light at your house during the night-time. The blue light that all these computers and smart-phones emit can be very harmful for the sight and will surely decrease your motivation to work better at the same time reducing your concentration power. On the contrary, Himalayan salt lamps emit a pleasant and warm pinkish orange glow that’s quite close to the colour of candlelight or campfire hence is incredibly soothing and relaxing. Having a Himalayan salt lamp by your desk or bed will decrease the stress of the daily routine thus motivating you for the new day.
Negative Ions: The modern technology era, with all its benefits, has also a great number of disadvantages among which is the fact that cities have now become real bunkers of positive ions that affect our physical and mental health badly. Nature is the main source of negative ions that increases the flow of oxygen into the human brain leading to decreased drowsiness and higher mental and physical energy, in other words, the feeling you have when breathing the fresh air of mountains or seas and oceans. In the city or at your house where you are surrounded with tablets, phones, laptops and TVs it’s hard to experience this feeling due to the lack of negative ions but you could have a very small amount of them if you got a Himalayan salt lamp. They do generate negative ions, though in very small amounts. In any case, it’s better than nothing and you can at least be sure that due to their light you will have the soothing feeling of nature at your house.
Reduction in the Symptoms of Asthma and Allergy: Many users of Himalayan salt lamps have proved this fact. The lamps do have the power of making the life of people suffering from asthma and allergies easier. Above all, Himalayan salt is used in inhalers and there are a number of salt therapies against asthma and allergies, or for a better health gain. Keep a Himalayan salt lamp in a place at your house you spend time most or at your office, if possible and you’ll see the positive results soon.
Other benefits of Himalayan salt lamps include the following:
Less colds and flu
Less stress and anxiety
Better concentration ability
Motivation to work/study longer hours
Decrease in headaches and migraines
Decrease in the symptoms of rheumatism and arthritis
Improvement in skin diseases
A good source of sound sleep
Everything that is natural, is surely of some benefit to your mind and body. Choose the right and genuine Himalayan salt lamp and keep it at your house or office – it will give you both an aesthetic pleasure and an incredible amount of health benefits that will surpass all your expectations!
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I am officially on holiday! Right now, I will most likely be enjoying the harbour views and a gentle stroll around the pretty village of Wells-Next-The-Sea in Norfolk.
Holiday Cottages UK
Holiday Time!
We found a delightful old cottage to stay in, which makes a change from the caravan homes of previous years. My daughters are excited to sleep in bunk beds for the first time. Our dog will indulge in his love for sea swimming and paddling on the shore. Bliss! See you in a week…
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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The wheel of the year has turned again, and we are now in the season of the 1st harvest. Known as Lammas to some and Lughnasadh to others, for me it is a time for celebration.
My youngest daughter was born on the 1st of August! This week sees our family enjoying fun and parties, and then we are away for our summer holiday. But real life still goes on. We are still in a state of change and revolution.
Universal Waite-Smith Tarot card deck
Lammas Blessings and Hail Lugh! #365DaysofTarot
I drew out the Eight of Swords in a Tarot reading last week. The message was clear: “Free yourself! This prison or restriction is of your own making. Cut the ties that bind and allow yourself the freedom of expression. Be yourself.” The rest of the reading was about feeling invigorated and energised to finish a creative project. That sounds like Lammas energy to me! There was also a warning that I might be hiding in my work to avoid addressing personal challenges. Well, perhaps that message wasn’t for me. I can think of somebody else that it applies perfectly to at this time.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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Tomorrow is a very exciting day. My little girl will celebrate her fourth birthday! I am both excited and anxious about this event, if I am honest.
Having fun on holiday
You see, a couple of years ago, I wrote a blog post entitled Never Mind the Terrible Twos; Beware the Fearsome Fours. Yes, my elder daughter was a little angel up until she turned four. Then she rebelled, and it was a very challenging year.
My one consolation is that the younger child was not the same as her sister. She was noisy, confident, independent and assertive pretty much from the day she was born. And she is already a little diva when she wants to be. In fact, I have seen her pushing her big sister around, quite literally. And I am amazed at the control she has over our dog. He will obey her without question when she instructs him to do something. He ignores me most of the time. She is an old soul, that’s for sure.
Happy Birthday, Georgina. Mummy, Daddy, Elliot and Baxter love you very much.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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Having recently relaunched my Redcliffe novels series with new cover designs, I am in the process of working through my back catalogue and carefully planning any design work for new books that I have in progress.
It is understood that humans are visual beings, for the most part. We take in the physical appearance of things, people and pictures when we make our initial judgement about whether to approach, touch or interact.
NEJ Photography based in Hereford and the local area.
The Art of Book Cover Design
This is very important for book cover design, and I knew this right from the start, but budget restrictions were a factor. Anyway, as time wore on and the book industry changed again, so have our attitudes and understanding of common practice. A very good friend of mine is a big fan of the Redcliffe novels series, and she happens to be an accomplished professional photographer. She offered to design the cover for my new novel Eye of the Tiger (A Redcliffe Novel), because apparently, she had something very specific in mind. Since I was mostly clueless about the visual aspect of my new book, I gladly accepted her offer. And I love the result!
Today I would like to take the opportunity to showcase the work of NEJ Photography. Based in Herefordshire, Natalie specialises in portrait and boudoir photography, local events and business portfolios, and she is now dabbling in book cover and digital art design. I have already commissioned her to create a new cover for my self-published novel The Vampire of Blackpool, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with… no doubt it will be a Gothic masterpiece!
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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Up until recently, I hadn’t taken much notice of the New Moon during the monthly cycles. I was always far more comfortable with Dark Moon energy. But this weekend I learned something new.
The Dark Moon is the point at which the moon seems to fade away, disappearing from view, leaving the sky dark and empty. This is traditionally a good time to banish all that no longer serves in your life, to clear out old habits, old attitudes, outdated beliefs, and even to clear out old belongings.
Universal Waite-Smith Tarot card deck
Embrace the New Moon Energy
My life is in a state of change at the moment. I have done a lot of energy work to clear out old things, using the Dark Moon for support. Now I need to move forward, and embrace all that is about to come. The New Moon is about new beginnings. A fresh start. A new project. There are various aspects that I refer to, some which are too personal and intimate to share at this time. But my Dark Moon and New Moon Tarot readings during the past couple of days totally backed up the energy that I am feeling.
#365DaysofTarot
The Strength Tarot card came out in a reading on the New Moon. She backed up my feelings of anxiety and uncertainty about events in my life. Her message was simple: “Embrace the challenge that has been presented to you. Yes, it is scary. It is way beyond your comfort zone. But you have prepared for this event, and you can embrace the change.”
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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