Useful & Beautiful

08/03/2022

Please check out my latest page if you are looking for a unique and comfortable stay in the wilds of West Wales.

22/04/2021

I'll be honest with you the past few months have been tough. I am sorry have failed to be current with Useful & Beautiful. I feel I should explain, I have unfortunately had to refuse to help clients with requests that I would of loved to assist. I have had to admit to commit to self-care and family first as I have been suffering with a variety of symptoms that have been diagnosed as Long COVID. It took me quite a while to admit that I had an issue, which just made things worse. I have had to slow down and take time out to recover. Love to you all Xx

03/11/2020

Busy making body butter, it's so simple and so good.. This one is made using mango butter, shea butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil.. I added a little rosehip oil which is supposed to be good for healing scars and scented it with rose absolute and ylang-ylang... These will be gifts for friends X

01/11/2020

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1916705775135274&id=513656005440265

It's been a particularly stressful year.. Let's take more time out to do the things that restore us and make us laugh and smile..X

Bite-Size UnBusy Holiday Challenges 👉🏾
becomingunbusy.com/take-back-your-holiday
*We start Nov 1 💛

15/10/2020

That frost this morning has prompted me to pick the last of our rosehips to turn into delicious syrup.. I made it for the first time the other week. I was super impressed by how easy it was to do and so good on the morning porridge.. Apparently its actually healthy for you too.. Xx

02/10/2020

In a world where we all have differences.. Be kind X

02/09/2020

WATT a thoroughly inspiring book, so glad it arrived in a rainy day so I could devour it.. (Thank you Thea de klein for trying to get me to the group.. I've got the book instead!), highly recommend it!

07/08/2020

https://becomingunbusy.com/documentaries

A great list of the top Netflix documentaries to watch with your family. These documentaries will open the door to life-changing discussions with your kids.

02/07/2020

Useful tips for a less stressful house move..

Ideally allow yourself 6 weeks to prepare.

Collect packing supplies. (bubble wrap, tape, marker pens, newspapers, boxes)

Ideally choose sturdy boxes of the same size, this will make stacking easier and maximise use of space. (Ensure they are securely taped!)

Collect more boxes than you think you'll need.

Declutter as much as possible! Donate/Sell. Only take what you think you'll want in your new home. Pair down your bookshelf too.

When dismantling furniture keep all bolts and screws in a zip lock bag and tape securely to the item, careful not place where paint maybe pulled off though.

Sharpies at the ready label boxes clearly.

Label according to destination room, number each box with a list of whats in each (ideally).

Pack the rooms that are used least first to be unpacked last.

Pack heavy items in smaller boxes where possible, consider being able to lift it!

Pack a box of essential items, such as the tea/ kettle/snacks/first aid/scissors/cleaning products to be packed last or kept close to hand.

Each family member should pack a suitcase for the first night, to include their necessary items for that time, children's favourite book or teddy as well as toothbrush and jamis.

Pack all bedding together to be packed last.

Pack 'like with like'.

Take photos of leads that are complicated to put back.. This will help take the stress out of reconstruction.

Ask a professional to help if you are short of time or want the move to be less stressful.

Remember preparation is the key to self-care and less stress.

Happy moving!

P. S Don't pack your cat in a box!

02/07/2020

https://nosidebar.com/things-minimalists-dont-do/ Sorry its not my post, but I consider there are some relevant tips for you all.

Give yourself some breathing room by skipping these 10 things that minimalists don’t do.

18/04/2020

Another thing, I have found time to commit to the Wim Hof, I have been interested in his method for years, but always found the excuse of no time to do it, even though it's literally 20minutes out of my day to do the BREATHING! It's a free app, useful guided breathing bubble. There has never been a better time to do this, deep breathing is key to de-stress, STRENGTHENING of your immune system and preparing for Covid 19.
I share because I care and he is a beautiful man. X

18/04/2020

Lockdown .. This time has been a gift from the chaos of normal life. One would imagine I would of Marie kondoed the whole house by now! Instead I have taken a big pause.. I have enjoyed spending time with the family, relaxing in their company, dusting off the board games, looking through old photo albums, not feeling the rush or need to categorise and declutter...its wonderful.. The pets have never been so loved, the garden never so tended too, our bellies never so well fed!

Thank you all, big love to all who can't stay at home as they are essential workers, you are worth your weight in gold ...May you be long appreciated after all this is over.

Even though I talk of my priveledged, happy life on the hills I am thinking of all the families who have lost a loved one and imagining will it be someone I know next? I am scared, I'm worried about everyone, it's strange, life appears so 'normal', but it's really not, so let's not forget please stay at home if you have one. Time to down tools and appreciate the beauty in simplicity.

Peace and love to you all.

31/03/2020

Whilst Solly keeps busy with the lego 30 day challenge I am keeping sane with the yoga 30 day challenge.. What are you doing in isolation?

17/03/2020

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1662347480571106&id=513656005440265

And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still.
And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed.

And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal. And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.

— Kitty O'Meara

17/03/2020

The process involved pulling it all out and then sorting into categories, particularly pleased with the pots fitting into the veg trays.. So much easier when it comes to potting on those seedlings. The pile by the tunnel has been recycled and thrown, only keep what you need.

17/03/2020

Yesterday was a beautiful day to stay isolated at home with my garden shed.. It had become a very disorganised dumping ground! I wasn't feeling inspired to tackle the garden with it like that.. So after 3 hrs and a tea break it is a humble retreat.. I even cleaned the window!

08/03/2020

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1523422827832653&id=601428633365415

When pairing back gets hard, I want you to come re-read this list — 10 Benefits of

17/02/2020

Organising Rules to stick to....

Have a plan and a purpose

Why do you need to organise your space? Is it stressing you out? Are you over-whelmed when you are in that space? Does it distract you from the reason you went into that space? These are some of the reasons you need to sort out the clutter. Until you realise these factors you will never feel motivated to make the changes.
Find the time for that `motivation’.

Now make a plan

I find the S.P.A.C.E method the most effective way to organise.

SORT-PURGE-ASSIGN-CONTAIN-EVALUTE

This will help you to sort your belongings. Take 5 containers with the following labels to ensure a proper sort out.
CHARITY-SELL-KEEP-BIN-RELOCATE.

If you run out of time in one session, you will already of organised what you want to do with each item.
Don’t buy lots of different containers before you organise as you may purge and assign to different areas of the home other than the one they are currently in.
Note when purging, if it is no longer useful or beautiful to you or you have no room for it, let it go.

Don’t compare your process with others

Do what works for you! Sounds blindingly obvious, but in the world of Instagram and pintrest we can be swayed by the visual beauty of an organising scheme which may not work in
our own personal space or for our own personal requirements. Every person and space is different, make use of what you already have around the house, DO what you can afford and functionality should always trump how an organised space looks. Don’t compare, concentrate on setting up systems that make sense for you and your family.
Concentrate on one organising task at a time
I am so guilty of not sticking to this rule! But believe me you will achieve what you set out to do in your allocated time if you do!