Hey all! As it is breast cancer awareness month, I want to share with you all
why I avoid personal care products that contain the chemical
preservatives parabens. Have you heard of them?
They are found in nearly all personal
care and beauty products you buy on the high street. In 2011 they were
banned in Denmark in products aimed at children under the age of 3 years
on the grounds of reproductive toxicity. In fact, Exposure to high
levels of oestrogen before or just after birth can be detrimental for
male reproductive function. Scary to think many 'nappy creams' contain these preservatives.
All parabens have been shown to bind to human oestrogen receptors and
increase expression of oestrogen. Lifetime exposure to oestrogen is
among other things, an established risk factor for breast cancer so much
so that Breast Cancer UK
publicly supports the phase out of all parabens from all cosmetics and
products designed to be applied to the skin and supports an extension of
EU Article 60 (3), to ensure parabens are, by default, classed as
Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC).
We are all becoming more
aware of what we are putting in our bodies as food so perhaps it is time
to take a look at the ingredients in the personal care products we
apply every day to not only our skin but our families bodies too.
Relationships, business, work, health, mind, ever wanted to change or improve something in your life but somebody is in the way? Someone is stopping you or annoying you or not letting you do what you want to do?
Do you ever utter the words, if only my boss would give me that promotion then I could get the new car I want. I wish my boyfriend would stop putting me down then I would be so happy. If only my parents would give me more pocket money then I could go on that holiday with my friends?
What if I told you that there is a solution to your problem, that there is an answer to that person or situation 'getting in your way'?
3 years ago I wouldn't have believed you. I would blame others for where I was in my life, that I was unhappy or didn't have enough money or time and wasn't living the dream I'd hoped for. Until a situation forced me to look at myself at the choices I had made.
What I realised was that I was where I was because of me, myself! Nobody held a gun to my head and said I must be in that relationship or be working with this person or doing that job.I realised the choice was mine.
"The degree to which you accept responsibility for everything in your life is
precisely the degree of personal power you have to change or create anything in your life"
- Hal Elrod
By not making my own decisions and desires clear to myself and others, I was unconsciously choosing to let others lead me and let them make decisions for me, which in the long run I wasn't happy with, so how could I blame those people?
I want to tell you this so that you don't make the same mistakes that I did.
Whatever situation we are in is actually of our own making. At first I was so scared of this revelation, it meant I had to look at myself, that I was responsible for me and my own happiness.
After sometime sitting with this I got very excited and began to feel empowered. I am in control!!! I decide my future, just like you do!!
We have the power to change anything we aren't happy with!! A great book that helped me with this is 'how to get from where you are to where you want to be' by jack Canfield. I highly recommend it, especially if you are looking to take control of your life or are in a situation be is work, relationship, living situation that you are not happy with.
Please don't spend time moaning about others, what they are or aren't doing for you or how they are treating you, when you have the power to change any situation you aren't happy with!
A friend of mine was always complaining about Facebook and how there were people on her timeline venting about their relationships or work and it made her so frustrated! We spoke about it at length and she realised she had the option to change her frustration, she could either leave Facebook or delete/unfollow the people whom frustrated her. Right then and there she unfollowed all the people whose comments frustrated her and she stopped moaning!! She changed from frustrated to empowered in an instant! Simple as that!
I hope you found this useful, please share any revelations you have had recently or any advice you have to help shift from an unhappy situation in to a positive place :-)
Hair extensions make your hair thicker, fuller, longer. I've been having them for years, I got my first set in 2005! Wow time flies. They become quite addictive actually! A bit like getting your nails done, they just make everything look better!
The hairdresser tells you a couple of tips and may even give you a care packet but nothing prepares you for extensions like talking to somebody who has had them for years.
With this in mind I know how hard it is when you first get them done and you don't really know how to look after them, they are not cheap after all so you want to make them last as long as possible.
Here are my secrets to keeping your hair extensions in great condition and making them last as long as possible!
1. Always dry your roots.
This is where the bonds will be so whenever you wash your hair make sure that you take a couple of minutes to blow dry your bonds using COLD air. I would use the hot setting on my blow dryer and they would get all warm and soft which is the opposite of what we want. So always use the cold setting.
2. Wash less
It's a good idea to wash your hair as little as possible to keep your bonds in tact. Dry shampoo is a lifesaver for this. Extensions tend to hold styles and curls a lot better so why wash it if you don't need to? You can also do a top wash. Section your hair in half, making sure all the extensions and bonds are neatly tied in a bun at the nape of your neck out of the way, leaving your natural hair free at the top of your head. Put your head upside down over the bath and do a shampoo and condition on the loose/top part of your hair. I do this once per week between washes.
3. Serum and mask
It's likely that the ends of your extensions will get dry because they are not attached to your head they are not getting any oil to them. To combat this I use an all natural hair serum by arbonne on my ends everyday, it keeps them shiny.
4. Shampoo sans SLS
One of the main reasons my extensions often last 6 months is because I only use shampoo with out nasties like sodium laurel sulphate and silicones. SLS is a foaming agent which strips away the colour and moisture of your hair. Best to avoid these ingredients to promote longevity of your extensions. I use Arbonne FC5 shampoo and conditioner.
5. Brush gently
I know this sounds simple but it really makes such a difference. Brush your hair very gently and hold on to the top part of your hair while you run a soft bristled brush from near your hand to the bottom of your hair. Braiding your hair at night to keep it from getting tangled over night is a great idea too!
Feel free to share your tips on keeping your hair extensions in great condition…
For a while now I have been thinking about getting a tattoo. I know I know it is not a decision to be taken lightly. Tattoos are for life, not just for Christmas ya know. So where better to ask for the best advice but my readers?
I want a tattoo with meaning. I want to look at it everyday and remind myself of the hard times I have been through, how I am so much stronger now than I have ever been. I want it to give me strength. Here are some ideas of what I want...
I like the idea of hearts and flying birds, for me they signify love, freedom, hope and power.
So what do you think? Do you have any tattoos or would you get one?
Hi ladies and gents, today is a very different type of post for me. In fact I have never broached this subject before. The reason I am writing this post is because it is something that effects me daily and I think it can effect us all at different times in different ways.
After posting about my Detox, I found that not only did it really help me stick to it because I felt like if I didn't I would be letting you all down and I don't want to do that, I also got lots of messages saying how it inspired others to do the same and stick to theirs. So maybe if I write about this subject it will help in this area too!
You might be thinking ok what is she talking about, so I will get to it...
fear
fɪə/
noun
noun: fear; plural noun: fears
1.
an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.
The type of fear I am talking about is the one which holds you back from new opportunities and experiences, when you say no to attending a meet up because of the thought of so many new people you don't know, when you don't pick up the phone and make that call about a new job because well what if they say you're not what they are looking for?
For years I have had this fear living inside me never sure of what it was, I just knew that certain things scared me and made me feel vulnerable and unsafe. Often I would avoid these people or situations. Now I realise that this is a form of anxiety.
The reason I am writing this post is because I am sick and fed up of being contained by this fear, I have well and trully had enough!
The biggest part of it for me is worrying about what people will think, pre-empting what they will say and taking on those feelings inside myself. Even though half of the time I am actually wrong.
So with all this in mind I am christening this month of 2014 Feel the Fear and do it anyway February!!
My Plan of Action
1. Make every phone call I am 'thinking' about making
Throughout the day there are probably at least 5-10 calls I 'think' about making. Sadly that is as far as it has gone in the past, thinking. This in itself creates more fear, then anxiety because I haven't done what I was meant to. Then come the feelings of low self esteem. Oh golly what a visious circle!
I vow to my readers and myself that every time I 'think' about making a phone call I will act on it at that moment or put a specific time in my diary to do it. Once it is in the diary it HAS to be done, those are the rules people!
2. Ask for what I need
How often do you need help with something but instead of asking trudge on trying in vain to do it yourself, wouldn't it have been so much easier just to ask?
I vow to my readers and myself that when I need help with something or I need a number/email address of somebody I am trying to contact I will just ASK! (note to self: It really isn't that difficult)
3. Say/Write what I am thinking
Am I the only one that can over think that I am writing or going to say? "what if the other person thinks it is wrong or doesn't agree with me"? So what, I say to that...
I vow to my readers and myself that I will say and write what I am thinking. Starting with my new pinterest board called "F*** Fear in the Face"!!! We live in a world full of differences and opinions that is why we all have a mind of our own, otherwise we might as well be procreating robots!
4. Make fear a source of fascination.
I read that accepting your fear and becoming fascinated by it is a sure fire way to conquer it.
I vow to my readers and myself that I am going to find out everything I can about the source of my fear. Where does it come from? Why does it have so much power? Essentially I will become friends with it. Kind of like I did with my anxiety, I said "listen anxiety if you are going to be around for a while we might as well be friends"!
5. Celebrate my victories
I think it is really important to applaud yourself when you take a positive step. It gives you the determination to take another step, then another.
I vow to my readers and myself that I am going to become my own biggest cheerleader, applaud every step I take big or small. I will even treat myself to little prizes along the way! #loveyourselffirst
I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on this. Does anyone else feel like this? Does Fear hold you back at all? Do you suffer from anxiety?
I love making wishlists and browsing through shops online making purchases in my mind :-) there are definitely more than a few things I have my eye on this year and I am determined to get them. I am not a fan of having things to excess or showing off with what you have or can afford but I do believe that if you really want something and work hard for it then it becomes a reward!
Looks like I will be working extra hard :-)
1. A new flat that I can invite all my friends round to and have fun work and blogger parties
2. Soft box lights to get my photography and YouTube looking smashing | £52.99
I am so excited to be in a new year! Wahoooo.. goodbye 2013 hello 2014!! To start the year of with a bang I have decided to challenge myself to a detox. OMG I tell you this is not going to be easy for me because 1. I love coffee, sugar, cakes and 2. I hate exercise, the mere thought of it fills me with dread. But for 30 days I am going to whip myself in to shape. Why you may ask? I asked myself the same thing. The answer is because I feel like my body could do with a good cleanse.. I am after all nearing 30 and need to start taking better care of it and also because I really want to challenge myself and get in to new good habits. So there we are. I would love to hear if any of you are doing one?
My Goals
1. Do more exercise (3 times per week, although once a week technically would be more than I do now)
2. Join a new exercise class
2. Go to bed at a reasonable hour (11pm)
3. Read for 20 minutes before sleep
4. No technology after 11pm (urgh this is a hard one)
5. No Caffeine
6. Healthy food choices
So as you can see I am not on a majorly strict kick ass detox, nor am I trying to loose weight. Maybe tone up a but but it is more about making better choices.
I have ordered some food and drink supplies so will probably start on the 6th January but I will update when I have an exact date and go in to more details on my meal plans etc.
I am actually really excited, although quite nervous.
Wow what a year it has been. The toughest of my life bar none! This time last year I was so unhappy and in an awful place. I actually feel sick when I think about it so I'm going to choose to focus on how far I've come, the friends I've made, the new Adventures I've started. And the fact that I've made it this far. :-)
The bad times have been and gone and now the sun is shining again. Slowly but surely it came out from behind the clouds. Helped by all the treasured times with family and new friends. Here are just some of those amazing memories.
Spending fun time with family. Me and my sis at a car boot sale, we met so many 'interesting' people. She bought a china tea set for £5, I nearly sold a real gold necklace for £1 oops!
Getting to watch my nephew grow. I lived with him for 9 months and it was the best time. Even the 6am wake up calls with him knocking on my door shouting 'Ashhh'. I loved every minute. He is the light of my life (ahh feeling so emosh)
Making new friends. This is the beautiful Laura from liparazziblog.com although we've known each other less than a year I feel like we've been friends all my life. She is such a lovely lass and now by BFF :-)
When I moved back to Aberdeen I really didn't know what I was going to do with myself. When I was presented with an opportunity to have my own skincare business, Although it wasn't something originally I saw myself doing I thought I'm going to go for it and jumped in. I've met so many fantastic, inspirational, successful and strong women who I get to work with and honestly I couldn't be happier. I'm so proud of myself for putting my fear aside and just going for it and I'm so excited to see how far it takes me in 2014!
Me training a room full of people. Many who had been in the business months and months longer than me. Wow I wouldn't have believed I could do this at the beginning of the year.
And lastly and very importantly, I am so grateful to my mum for being such an amazing women and support without her I don't know where I would be. She is so special and I can't wait to repay her for everything she has done for me (love you mum) soppy I know :-)
A huge thanks to all of you for following, reading and commenting on my posts. I never thought when I started my blog if have one follower let alone all the rest. I love sharing with you all and hearing your thoughts and ideas. Thank you all
I wish everyone a fantastic New Yeae and I can not wait to start 2014. There is so much to look forward to.
It has been such beautiful weather in Scotland. Really really hot, which is quite unusual I have to say. So today we decided to have a little lunch outside. Mum conjured up some summer delights and I... stuffed the mushrooms!! lol. Sorry but cooking is not my strong suit!!!
For starters we had gazpacho soup which is super delish and perfect for summer!! A lovely cool and light tomato soup. This one had a particular kick of garlic to mention... pheweee! Very healthy too.
Then it was on to salad, veggies, dips and bruschetta...
It was so lovely having this fabulously healthy and light summer lunch with such a fantabulous view!! It doesn't get any better than this!!
After all this I helped myself to a little banana bread which had been cooked on Sunday for a bbq desert. I love my mum's banana bread, seriously amazzzziinng!
That is how I spent my lunchtime today oh gorgeous ones...
What did you get up to? Did you get to sit in the sunshine?
I wanted to do a little post to help you get to know me a little better. Hopefully. Maybe. Yup. So what better way to do that than tell you my 5 favourite things, here goes..
1. Poppi the Chihuhua
number one has to be without doubt my chi chi. She has been a constant companion to me for 7 years now. Being there at my side through thick and thin. No matter what she is loyal. To see that little tail wagging when I get home makes me so happy. I love her more everyday.
2. My nephew (family)
Even though this little pumpkin has only been in the world for 14 months he has brought so much happiness and joy to my life that I never knew was possible. I was so chuffed when "Aaaaaash" was his 3rd word, which he said about 100 times a day. When I am feeling down just knowing he is my nephew reminds me of everything that is good in my life. I love love loooveee him so much.
3. Cupcakes
I am gonna admit it. I love cake. I said it cake, cake, cake I just love it. And there is absolutely nothing like a beautiful colourful tasty sweet cupcake to brighten my mood. I can't think of any situation that a cupcake wont make better.... go on, try it. I know you want to!
4. Friends the tv show
Honestly, I could watch this show all day, and you know what? sometimes I do. There is something so light and easy about it, never creating an uneasy feeling or any discontentment. It really does make me feel so happy. Could this show BE any better? (probably not).
5. The interweb
Where oh where would we be without the interweb? Well I certainly would be a less knowledgeable human being. Whenever in doubt google is always my clever friend answering such questions as 'What time is it in Korea' and 'How many grams are in a cup'. And if it wasn't for the www I wouldn't have my little blog, which I love so very much. Thank you Mr Internet inventor you have brightened my world.
I would love to hear all about your favourite things. Comment below x
Hi all, I hope everything is well in your world. I wanted to do a little 'catch up' post because I have been a little awol for the past week.
It is a new chapter in my life. I feel like I am finally moving from hopeless to hopeful!
With this in mind, I would really like your advice on changing my blog name. When I started AshlyLondon I was ehh living in London, single for the first time and just wanted to go out, have fun and discover myself. But now I feel like the name doesn't fit anymore. I want something that is more me, not associated to a place (in case I move again lol) but something that could incorporate any lifestyle topic as well as beauty, obvs Pops the chihuahua and just about my growing and discovering myself!!
Ok some of these are really random but here are my ideas so far:
I have been busy clearing out an old wardrobe of mine that I literally haven't looked in for 10 years. Yes 10 years! Crazy or whaa? But the time came when it was needed so the clearout began. I am not saying I had fun doing it but I did find some great treasures along with some what the hell was I thinking moments (plenty of those). So the fun came from the memories of old diaries and crazy letters written between friends.
So I thought I would share with you some of my finds in a trip down memory lane...
I have to say that I am really glad I got the time to look through my old things. It's funny looking at them again after so long and seeing them with a totally different perspective. It was great to remind myself who I was, what I liked and what I thought about when I was younger. After all it made me who I am today.
I would love to know if you remember any of these things?
