Curious Pandora

Watercolour Whimsy // Poem

art 11:30

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10 Things You Might Not Know About Essential Oils // Health & Wellbeing

Hey cats!

I recently took part in an essential oils workshop and wanted to create a quick post covering what I learnt about essential oils that I was previously unaware of. The majority of the points relate to very high quality oils, so remember to always do your research from a reliable source when it comes to purchasing good products, and know that good products won't always come cheap. I will leave useful product links at the end of this post!

Shockingly many products can be classed as an 'essential oil' whilst containing only 3% of that actual oil (hence the need for researching what you buy)!
Using essential oils (EO's) in a burner isn't as effective for aromatherapy as a diffuser, because a burner does exactly as it says, burning off the oil and its helpful properties in the process
Good quality oils can be used for a lot more than aromatherapy, such as making beauty, skincare and cleaning products, warding off insects, being used topically and they can even be used in food & drink (depending on the oil quality of course, please don't ingest oils unless they are 100% pure and you know the correct dosage!)
If you want to mix an EO to use topically then coconut oil is one of the best things to use as a carrier oil and it's also great for oil pulling; you can even add a drop of your favourite essential oil into your pulling routine
100% naturally sourced oils absorb much more quickly into the blood stream and have a highly detoxing effect
However, because of this you mustn't put a natural oil into plastic containers of any kind as the oil will mimic this detoxing effect and draw all the chemicals out of the plastic!
If you use a chemical based laundry detergent and dry your clothes on a radiator, this exposes you to a dose of chemical aromatherapy - there are alternate laundry solutions available where essential oils with disinfectant properties (such as tea tree or lemon) can be used with an EcoEgg or Soapnuts
Scarily, not all EO's are rigorously tested and a common issue includes Cassia oil being passed off as Cinnamon oil due to the fact that their chemical structure is identical unless analysed further
Putting EO's onto your pulse points is a great way to get the most benefit out of your oil as it absorbs into your bloodstream for quicker effectiveness and it gives you aromatherapy on the go!
It's easy to get creative with EO's and they can be used for most things, but I cannot stress enough how important it is to heavily research the best oil for what you want and also the brand/company you're purchasing them from, especially if you plan on ingesting any of the oils!

So whether you're already into essential oils or new to them, I hope that this post was a useful and enjoyable read. I'm such a huge fan of using essential oils for a variety of things and they're also a great help in moving towards a more eco-friendly & chemical-free lifestyle; I want to keep learning and growing as much as I can whilst walking a more natural path. I hope I can follow up this post with some of my favourite essential oils and why, so keep your eyes peeled and let me know if there's anything else you'd like me to cover in the future!

100% naturally sourced oils - DoTerra

Other great oils - Eco Aroma // Natural by Nature // Miaroma

Diffusers - Muji // Made By Zen // Amora Scent Hubs

For workshops and creative wellness - The Wonder Inn

Essential oil workshops by Gill - Facebook and Instagram: @essentialoilsliverpool

Is aromatherapy part of your life already or is it on your to-do list? Let me know in the comments!

Stay curious

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Making The Most of Bedtime // Health & Wellbeing

aromatherapy 12:41

Hey cats!

Recently a company called Leesa - who produce foam mattresses that are specially designed in order to give you the best quality sleep possible - got in touch with me asking if I'd like to get involved with an idea surrounding sleep goals, where you share your tips on how to get a good nights sleep. As someone who suffers with numerous health issues, all of which have affected my sleep at one time or another, I liked the whole idea and wanted to get on board! My tips are of course subjective and have built up from over 10 years of learning about what actually works for me; everyone is different and it's good to find what works for you, don't be disheartened if someone else's tips aren't quite the right fit for yourself. Hopefully you can at least find inspiration or something new to try out if you're struggling with sleep issues!

How I Get Better Sleep For A Healthier Lifestyle

First things first you're going to need a good mattress and pillow, as someone who struggles to get comfy due to aches and pains I've made sure I have a memory foam mattress and pillow to make drifting off that much easier
I also find it really helps to have the right number TOG quilt on, I used to have frequently disrupted sleep where I was waking up either too warm or too cold! While you're at it, treat yourself to some plush bedding to make bedtime seem more like a treat than a chore!
I'm sure by now everyone has at least seen or heard of the word 'Hygge' which basically means getting yourself cosy, make your bedroom a safe haven and try some mood lighting or a lamp with a dimmer (I find this really useful as a frequent headache sufferer)
Perhaps pop on a lovely scented candle whilst you read a book or have a bath, just make sure to blow it out before you sleep!
I'm definitely a sucker for a good pillow spray, my favourites include Miaroma's Lavender Sleep Mist and Avon's Lavender & Chamomile Sleep Serenity Mist. Using an essential oil for relaxing aromatherapy before bed is also a winner for me, you can find plenty of Pinterest 'recipes' for sleep related essential oil blends
Any kind of routine before bed is always useful, whether it's a skincare routine or the order in which you get ready for bed, the less your brain has to process then the more relaxed you'll be!
I like to have a chamomile tea an hour or so before heading to bed to help get me relaxed, if I'm feeling under the weather I'll switch it up for a lemongrass & ginger tea with a teaspoon of manuka honey for good measure
Often I'll take time to meditate whilst sat in bed, alternatively I'll use grounding techniques or visualisation with crystals (my favourite is cats eye for protection), I find this especially useful if my brain seems to be racing. It's truly incredible what a few long, deep breaths can do for you

Leesa were kind enough to send along this infographic with their own tips and tricks for good quality sleep, you can check them out here

Sleep Tips When Dealing With Pain

All the above mentioned tips are still useful but here's a few extras I'll add in if I'm struggling with a migraine, illness or any kind of physical pain:

I try to take any evening medication at least an hour before bed as I don't want my body processing it whilst I'm trying to sleep and keeping me up in the meantime; with painkillers this also gives them time to kick in so that falling asleep is a tad bit easier
I make sure not to eat too much close to bedtime as my stomach can get upset very easily. Lying horizontal with a full stomach isn't the key to relaxation, but then neither is going to bed hungry!
When I'm not feeling my best I do the simple thing and listen to my body, if I'm tired I sleep, if I need to rest then I will. I also find it really important not to oversleep when I'm feeling fatigued as this can cause me to wake up feeling even more sluggish and 'headachey'
Speaking of headaches/migraines, if I'm trying to sleep with one or the other and painkillers are doing nothing for me, I do a number of things: I take Feverfew tablets (a herbal remedy is much kinder than painkillers), I love listening to rain or nature sounds at a very low volume to soothe me, and my 4head stick becomes my best friend especially when applied to my neck
A new product I'm a fan of is an eye pillow which, when rested across your eyes eases headache pressure, gives you total darkness and is also filled with lavender & linseed which works in an aromatherapeutic way to relax you

I hope you enjoyed reading about how I try and get the best quality sleep that I can and maybe you've picked up something useful along the way! Naturally it's not easy to keep a routine, sometimes it's just not possible and I'll flop into bed and straight to sleep but it's good to take control and do what you can; sleep is so important for both your mental and physical health. I'd love to work towards practicing bedtime yoga and waking up a little earlier but those are sleep goals to achieve in the year to come!

How do you make sure you get a good amount of sleep, or is there anything you could be doing to make more of a difference? Let's get chatting in the comments below!

Stay curious

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*I wasn't sent anything in exchange for this post, Leesa simply wrote to me with the idea for the post and provided a graphic for me to use within the post if I chose to, which I did. The header image and the rest of the post is my own.

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A Little Life Update // Personal

blogging 11:30

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Reflective Writing - Keeping Promises // Personal

anxiety 11:30

Hey cats!

I've got quite a busy and stressful time going on for me at current and I thought what better time to take a breather, dive into the past and make some reflections here in the present. I feel this piece I'm sharing is most fitting considering I find my education and low mood correlation history is repeating itself in an all too familiar way and I'm in a very similar place during my college diploma as I was in university.

As I said in earlier posts I would share my ramblings from about a year or so ago, to better understand where I am now. I won't change anything in them, even though I may want to. There are some things I don't want to be reminded of but I know its necessary. Also there may be some poor grammar and spelling but that's just what happens when you pour out words from your heart. I start from the beginning, the first time I really opened my eyes to the world and found how out of touch I was with everything.

Tuesday 6th March 2012

Walking to university today, my reflection in the windows of the building seemed to be moving faster than me…who was this girl…should I try and catch up, or is my life running away from me, am I losing myself? Is this a projection of how out of touch I feel with myself, with reality, of how out of control I feel. It felt like falling, losing my grip on life’s blatant unfairness. She was getting away, this once wonderful me, there in full glory…grinning, or maybe it was teeth bared. She used to be ready to attack at any moment, poised for action against the world and now she was getting away; am I merely the shadow being left behind as the sun fades away? I don’t want to be, but it almost feels as if it's too late now, there’s too much to patch up, sew up, re-stitch, and would it all be worth it in the end? I don’t think I could ever be her again. That’s why I’m me now. Obviously she’s there somewhere…be it past or future, moving ahead of me, almost racing me, elation at my confusion as to who she was. This dazzling beast contrasted with the creature and her contorted face into an almost permanent frown. I do not want to be her. I want to chase the reflection, I want her to explain, to tell me everything will be okay. I want to understand. I want her to be me. Please.

I knew even when writing this, logic was snapping at my heels about how it was probably the angle of the building or the sunlight that caused my consternation about my shadow side, but does logic really matter when true thought and reflection is provoked? Indeed how profound my literal reflection caused internal reflections, I'm smirking at the chances of this happening. The truth is that this moment and many following it haunted me for a long time and have stayed with me as clear as day even until now. I struggle with my memory due to my numerous health issues but the things I remember without fail are moments like these, moments with my shadow or reflection, the feeling that I was two people, striving to be one of whom I claimed to have lost. Surely it wouldn't be normal not to lose ourselves? If we never changed or moved, we'd never grow or experience or truly live; loss is normal. A constant feature in human life, where no permanency really exists because life isn't permanent so neither is anything within it. I scold myself internally for writing that, it sounds so miserable and pessimistic. I'm a collective of parts and people with no one unifying factor other than the body I store them all in. I am separate and distant, a husk and a host. The girl that wrote in 2012 is just like the girl in the reflection, lost or gone. I'm learning that it's okay though, that's how it is meant to be.

I was afraid then because I was becoming a different person, I was letting my depression truly kick in and take over for the first time and I felt loss for the innocent teenager I had no choice but to leave behind. I still feel to an extent that I'm chasing the version of myself that I want to be, but I don't see that as a negative; I think it's good to have something to strive for, to want to be the best person you can possibly be. I think this particular reflection represents the fire and determination inside of me that had been a constant in my life but which I lost at university, I missed my motivation and I was scared that I wanted to give up; that wasn't in my nature and it still isn't. Life does feel like it's speeding away from me but that should be more motivation than anything to run and catch up with it. I'm in a constant tussle between my mental and physical illnesses and my core self; the person I could be without anything holding me back.

I'm hopeful this time around though and I can't wait to finish my diploma and really start my life. I've worked damned hard on this course and throughout the past year and a half in order to sort my health out as much as I can. I'm doing the best I can in the situation I've been dealt in this life and I've realised I need to stop kicking back or lashing out at it, because it's coming along for the ride whether I like it or not, and I can achieve what I want even with it sitting on my shoulder trying it's best to weigh me down. I feel like I'm closer than ever to that future me, that I'm much clearer in who I am and who I'm trying to be, I still yearn to be carefree, rid of anxiety and depression, but at least I can say I'm really trying my best.

If you have any thoughts to share on my ramblings then I'd love to hear them and if any of this has affected you in any way where you need to talk, please feel free to email me

Stay curious

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My Favourite Brow Products of All Time // CF Beauty

barry m 11:30

Hey cats!

It's been a little while since I've done a beauty post and a lot of that is down to the fact I don't often change up my make-up so there isn't usually much to catch you up on. However, in the past few months I've tried out some new products on my quest to find my own holy grail brow product and I have to say, I've found some gems! Since I'm finally getting the hang of this brow malarky and a few of you have been kind enough to compliment my brows on Instagram, allow me introduce you to my favourite products of all time.

NYX Brow Gel

A brow pomade was a big step for me so a gel was definitely something novel, that being said this little wonder is so fantastic, easy to control and you barely have to use any so don't let the tiny tube deceive you! There's a great range of colours available and the gel is a thick enough consistency that means it doesn't squeeze out uncontrollably at the slightest touch, but it's not so thick that it's impossible to get out. I would say with this that you need to have a good angled brush to apply it with (my favourite is down below) and to make sure you don't layer it up because it can go clumpy/flaky as it dries very quickly, so speed is of the essence in applying it. It's one of those products that I was unsure about at first but once I got in the groove with how to make it work for me, it's hard to want to use anything else, especially when the staying power is beyond incredible; brows on fleek all day.

Barry M It's A Brow Thing

I bought this on impulse because I wanted lush brows quickly & easily for the days I'm not feeling so great and boy does this product deliver on that, which is great when I don't want to commit to using the gel. The only downside of this is that you can't control how much product comes out (and it's quite a lot so use with caution) but it's so easy to apply, goes on velvety smooth and surprisingly considering it's only a powder, it does not budge. At all. My favourite combo lately is to use this to roughly fill in my brows, and then to use the gel to sharpen the top and bottom lines. Such a winner for me and again the staying power is phenomenal.

Makeup Revolution Brow Dual Arch & Shape

This is an old favourite of mine, I don't use it so much nowadays but it was an absolute failsafe when I did. I'd use this in a similar way to what I've just mentioned, where I'd fill in my brows with the soft crayon and then outline/extend with the felt tip end. It's beyond easy to control, pigmented but not too much so (meaning you can layer up) and again my brows lasted all day. I also was a big fan of using just the felt tip end to fill in my brows because you could create real looking brow hairs with minimal effort; I'd highly recommend this product if you're just starting out on getting those Instagram-esque brows!

EcoTools Angled Brush

If you're going to be using gels, pomades, etc then you're going to need a good brush and EcoTools are always my go-to brand. The one pictured is most likely from a set I purchased a while ago but they have an amazing brow specific duo which is practically the same brush plus a spoolie to tame those brows for under a fiver! Anyway, I love this angled brush because the long handle gives me a great amount of control, the brush is soft but still keeps it's structure and of course it's eco-friendly and cruelty-free.

I hope you enjoyed my brow faves and maybe you've discovered something new to try out, I love these because they're all budget options that go above and beyond their monetary value in product quality, not to mention they're all cruelty-free! Also, don't forget any brows are even better after being set with a brow gel, you can read about my favourite one here.

What are your holy grail brow products? I always like to try new things (as long as they're cruelty-free)!

Stay curious

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My Dreadlock Diary #5 - The Week After The Wash

baby dreads 11:30

Hey cats!

This probably isn't going to be the longest of posts because not too much has happened in a week or so, but I figured it's best to write any kind of update for my little memory bank than nothing at all. So here's how my week has been after my first ever dread wash!

A Week Away

In a style so true to myself, I was really cutting it short in terms of time, as I got my dreads installed with full knowledge that only a couple of weeks later I'd be spending a week at my boyfriends house, as well as attending a family wedding! Luckily for me everything went off without a hitch, my dreads felt glorious the whole time and I managed to tame them into a cute half-up sort of 'do' for the wedding; my boyfriend refers to it as 'elf hair' which is where I take a small chunk of hair from above each ear and pull to the back of my head, clipping both sides in the middle. If you're unsure what I mean just google elf hair and that pretty much nails it! The wedding was super fun, my hair stayed in place all night (a first for me!) and I felt really good, which is all I wanted above everything as it meant I could relax a bit and enjoy myself without worrying.

Naturally as time goes on my dreads are getting messier and 'poofier' but that's to be expected, there's also a lot of loose hair poking out here and there which again is totally normal as hair doesn't automatically dread and stay that way, it's a process you've got to work through. I'm planning to book in some maintenance with the lady who did my dreads in the first place so that they can be tidied up and helped on their way to knotting up properly.

Caring For My Dreadies

Before I got my dreads I made sure I had everything I would need already stocked up, one of the most important things being a crochet hook (I bought a 1mm & a 0.75mm hook) as this is a really useful tool for dreadlock maintenance. I had a go trying to use a crochet hook to tuck in some loose strands after watching a couple of YouTube tutorials, I managed to but I found it very fiddly and slow going, which resulted in my hands hurting quite quickly.

After the wash I found it quite funny that the hair at the roots of my dreads (which isn't fully dreaded as new hair is always growing) didn't go 'poofy' afterwards but instead became smooth 'normal' hair, quite a juxtaposition in comparison to my little noodles! After giving the roots a massage they've fuzzed up and started to re-dread by themselves, potential crisis averted.

Drama then hit the news with fears of 'superlice', as if normal lice weren't a bad enough threat with any hair, let alone dreadlocks. Naturally I wanted to protect myself against any chance of this happening and I managed to find a really cheap tea tree spray from Quality Save (that's made up of mainly essential oils & is cruelty-free) that I spritz on after washing so that it absorbs into my scalp, I also use it just before heading out. It's great to give your hair a freshen and can also help to prevent dandruff!

On the left are two of my most important tools and on the right is my now redundant hairbrush!

How I'm Feeling

I still absolutely adore my dreads and it's honestly so hard to find fault with them; they're giving more confidence than before and I feel much less nervous about them in public. A lot of people do still stare, do double-takes, children look and make remarks their parents, some people smile back at me...it's normal really because I've experienced this most of my life. It's just hair but many view it as something strange or unique. I suppose it is quite unique perhaps?

They even seem longer already to me and I know that's most likely because they're settling down rather than sticking up all over the place, either way it's a sign that normal progress is happening. Part of me wished I'd done a blonde ombré to the ends of my hair before dreading but I really didn't want to damage my hair after getting it back to good condition took such a long time, plus hair can't be dreaded if it's in poor condition. I do have to say though months on now writing this diary entry up, my previous hair colour (which I matched to my own) is actually washing out or lightening, and the ends of my hair are becoming blonde!

After washing not much else changed, the dandruff reappeared so I just re-salted and shampoo'd my hair a week later, other than that there isn't much else to report. My friends and family are getting more used to them, many people (including strangers) compliment them or are interested in them and these little beansprouts on my head are already impacting my life in a positive way. I'm that bit more carefree and spontaneous, I've gotten so much free time back that I usually would have spent blow-drying and styling my hair every 2-3 days, which in turn has eased the strain of my fatigue somewhat. All in all I'm still very happy with what I consider my 'life-changing' decision!

I hope you're enjoying this series so far and if there's anything you want to know then just leave a comment below!

Stay curious

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Watercolour Whimsy // Poem

10 Things You Might Not Know About Essential Oils // Health & Wellbeing

Making The Most of Bedtime // Health & Wellbeing

How I Get Better Sleep For A Healthier Lifestyle

Sleep Tips When Dealing With Pain

A Little Life Update // Personal

Reflective Writing - Keeping Promises // Personal

My Favourite Brow Products of All Time // CF Beauty

NYX Brow Gel

Barry M It's A Brow Thing

Makeup Revolution Brow Dual Arch & Shape

EcoTools Angled Brush

My Dreadlock Diary #5 - The Week After The Wash

A Week Away

Caring For My Dreadies

How I'm Feeling

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