Didn’t See That Coming By Rachel Hollis Book Review

Rachel Hollis, Didn't see that coming, book, book review. Didn’t See That Coming could be the slogan for 2020 and this book is the essential read to help us all through it. Written with searing honesty, Rachel Hollis has wisdom in spades and she is here to share it. Rachel has suffered trauma and grief and now she has a blueprint to get through to the other end. Rachel Hollis is a truly inspirational person and if we all had her attitude and resilience the world would be a better place and we would all be much happier. Get your hands on a copy of Didn’t See That Coming and improve your life forever. 

In a departure from Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis offers her devoted followers and new readers an aspirational guide to seizing the difficult moments for the learning experiences that they are, and finding value in them.

When the pandemic hit, Rachel found herself in a place that is also familiar now—facing immense grief, fear, anxiety, and worry about the world around us. As a mother of four, motivational speaker, and CEO of a company she built from the ground up, she realised that in order to get through this challenging time, she needed to reframe how she was approaching everything. Having survived crisis and grief many times herself, she believed she might be able to share what she knew and what she’d done so that she could help others walk through this hard time too.

DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING shares how to embrace the difficult moments in life for the learning experiences they are, and shows that a life well-lived is one of purpose – focused on the essentials.

 

3 Books For The Activist In Your Life.

How to be an anti racist ally, black lives matter,

Anti Racist Ally by Sophie Williams.

This is a timely and relevant book. It is not enough to not be racist, you need to be an anti-racist. This book shows you how. It is written in such a way that is easy to implement and never overwhelming. It can be hard to know how to help in life and contribute to racial equality, this book is an essential guide. The Princess and the prick, feminism, activism,

The Princess and the Prick. Fairy Tales for Feminists.

My daughter is only three but I will be keeping this book for her. Scathing, witty and so funny. This is an epic take down of childhood classics. Familar fables are turned on their head as the beloved heroines have their say. A fun eye-opener.

jane Fonda, What Can I do? climate change

What Can I Do? By Jane Fonda.

A deep dive into climate change and environmental issues and what you can do about it from the activists’s activist Jane Fonda. 100% of the net proceeds of this book go to Greenpeace. It is easy to feel powerless when it comes to climate change, but this book tells you the truth and hands the power to you. Just brilliant.

Books are available from waterstones.com, amazon.co.uk, www.dauntbooks.co.uk and independent book stores.

The Books That Changed me by Alex Bannard

alex yoga

I began my journey into mindfulness around 8 year’s ago amidst a battle with mental illness. 10 minutes of mindfulness by Goldie Hawn was my first insight into mindfulness & a wonderful reflection on parenting & engaging with our children.

It changed the way I parent & has shaped that experience for us all for the better. Flicking through it again to write this piece I am staggered by the simple wisdom in its pages & the great ideas that help us to encourage our kids to let their light shine…it makes me want to delve right back into it again! 

Some of the best, most honest, funny & engaging books written about mental health & mindfulness have been written, in my humble opinion, by Ruby Wax. Her brilliance, wit & searing honesty make each of her books a page turning delight. 

Finding a favourite is tough but possibly because I am fascinated by the geeky neuroscience behind mindfulness & spirituality, How to be Human pips the others to the post. In this book, Ruby chats through a variety of topics close to the heart of any full bloodied human with a neuroscientist, Ashish Ranpura & Buddhist monk, Gelong Thubten with her trademark frankness & humour. It was so good I went to see them perform on stage too, which was unforgettable. 

When we were living in Bangkok, a dear friend & spiritual guru introduced me to Gabby Bernstein’s The Universe has your Back. So began a mini obsession: I love Gabby’s work. This book introduced me to the idea that our thoughts & energy create our reality amidst the comfort of knowing the universe has our back. 

It taps into the idea of manifesting & law of attraction; the joy & flow that abound once we begin to dance in union with the energy of the universe. And it works. I ‘manifested’ a wonderful first home & fantastic school for myself & my kids when we returned to the UK soon after reading this book, within 2 weeks of making the decision. Having lived overseas for 12 years I have never seen anyone orchestrate a move so quickly & I put it all down to the universe having our back!

The Quantum & the Lotus by Matthieu Ricard & Trinh Xuan Thuan is an exploration of the overlap between quantum physics & spirituality, which feeds right into 2 of my passions. It’s not an easy read, but it’s remarkable & fascinating.

Finally, I recently finished my first ever book on Audible: Gabby Bernstein’s latest offering, I am the Guru.  The 6 lessons described are beautiful in their simplicity & ease of application. I had never ‘done’ Audible before. I love an actual book: the cover, turning over the page corners, the smell of it. But this book isn’t out in print yet & it was the only way to access it. What a revelation! I binge-listened to it one weekend, revisiting each chapter several times afterwards. And now I’m a convert, it’s revolutionised my reading experience for the better. 

Alex coaches yoga & mindfulness in person & online to individuals, groups, in schools & in businesses. She can be contacted at alex@myananda.co.uk or via her website www.myananda.co.uk 

 

Frost Loves Jurlique Skincare

jurlique skincare,

Jurlique recognises that organic ingredients are just as important on your skin as in your body, going one step further than most with its approach to organic skincare.

Jurlique’s sustainable farm in South Australia, an area that WHO has declared to have some of the best air quality on Earth, uses methods of certified organic, Biodynamic Farming to harness the concentrated botanicals into its products.

Jurlique’s Biodynamic Farming method embodies a more holistic approach to agriculture, enhancing nature’s energy in order to produce the best quality ingredients, full of life and vitality. And with organic farms having around 50% more bees, butterflies and other pollinators, organic not only nourishes your skin but also the planet.
Jurlique’s Organic Hero Products:

Rosewater Balancing Mist
Rose Body Oil
Nutri-Define Range

I tried the activating water essence. You put it on after cleansing but before your serum, or moisturiser. It smells amazing. Jurlique says it continuously hydrates, softens and revitalises the skin.  It does leave skin more hydrated and looking fresher. Jurlique is a high-end skincare brand and I cannot fault their products.

Activating Water Essence+

Endless Skies By Jane Cable Book Review

I have read all of Jane Cable’s books. I love them all but this one is my favourite. The character of Rachel is such a wonderful, complex, multi-dimensional character, written with such skill and grace that you have no choice but to love her. This is a modern love story set in sumptuous Lincoln. It has a clever historical twist that works beautifully.
Between the set and the characters; Endless Skies is an atmospheric novel with a story that draws you in and does not let go.

If you want to move forward, you have to deal with the past…

After yet another disastrous love affair – this time with her married boss – Rachel Ward has been forced to leave her long-term position in Southampton for a temporary role as an Archaeology Lecturer at Lincoln University.

Rachel has sworn off men and is determined to spend her time away clearing her head and sorting her life out.

But when one of her students begins flirting with her, it seems she could be about to make the same mistakes again…

She distracts herself by taking on some freelance work for local property developer, Jonathan Daubney.

He introduces her to an old Second World War RAF base. And from her very first visit something about it gives Rachel chills…

As Rachel makes new friends and delves into local history, she is also forced to confront her own troubled past.

Why is she unable to get into a healthy relationship? What’s stopping her from finding Mr Right?

And what are the echoes of the past trying to tell her…?

ENDLESS SKIES is thought-provoking contemporary women’s fiction novel with a heart-warming ending. It merges moving World War Two historical events with modern day drama to reveal a relatable love story.

Scooting back to school, a new way of life in COVID-19. Scootasoot Review

Every now and then someone comes along with a very clever parenting hack. Scootasoot is said clever parenting invention. An all-in-one reflective scooting suit for children. It is waterproof and looks fab. Cleverly, the hood fits over a helmet. It has ears though, so it still looks fun. I could not love, nor recommend these fab suits more. They keep kids safe and dry on their way home or to the park, what more could you want?
 Scootasoot, scooting, safe scooting, back to school  Scootasoot, scooting, safe scooting, back to schoolIt could be said that some parents may be in a panic about getting their kids to school safely without the use of public transport during the new school term, following the British government’s travel guidance. 

Ensuring children get to school on time with a bicycle, scooter or walking may place fear in parents who want to keep their children snug, visible and comfortable as they travel. An all-in-one Scootasoot for your child may aid in keeping them warm and safe this Autumn. 

 A colourfully reflective waterproof suit to make little ones more visible in the darker winter months to come. Scootasoot keeps kids dry when the rain season kicks in, don’t worry about them overheating due to its breathable material. 

Perfect for scootering or other forms of outdoor activities with a hood that works to fit a helmet, which is necessary due to the dangers of head injuries from slipping on wet roads. Ear and tail accessories in three animals are a better way for children to choose a fun option for their suit instead of just colours. 

This animal outdoor suit was made for children that like to explore and imagine. Due to travel restrictions, why don’t you make the most of exploring your environment with them? Let kids feel the fresh air and play to wake and excite them before they arrive at school. 

The fit is snug for teeny weeny hands and feet, so rest assured no uniform will be destroyed in the school run. The beauty of having a magnetic opening can calm anxieties on practicality. It’s on and off within seconds, chucked into your child’s bag at the school gates and weighs less than your purse and keys!

Getting a Scootasoot gives parents some peace of mind knowing their children will be warm and safe following The Department of Transport’s guidelines “Where travel is necessary, consider whether children could walk, scooter or cycle, accompanied by a responsible adult or carer.” 

 Whilst this can be a necessity, why not consider that it betters a child’s development by ensuring they get some exercise before the school day. Dr Danae Lund from Sanford Health says “Kids that spend more time outdoors are more likely to be inventive, explore and learn about the world around them. It improves their communication and reduces stress levels.” 

Not only are children becoming happier, they’re expanding their minds before they even get to the classroom. And to put it frankly “This is England, there is good reason why we are all obsessed with the weather- we never know what we are going to get!” Quoted from the creator of Scootasoot, Lotty reinforces the importance of being prepared this Autumn. If you’re travelling with your children, it’s better to be safe than sorry! 

To find out more visit https://www.scootasoot.co.uk/basket/ or check out their social media handles @Scootasoot 

Scootasoots are available online in the UK with Worldwide shipping, RRP £24.99 

 

Frost Loves All Tee, All Shade Online Retail Brand.

Winter is approaching and that means it’s time to break out the sweaters! You could reach for that boring sweater or sweatshirt that you’ve been rocking for years now; or, you could mix things up with a little bit of stylish humor.

These sweatshirts are so warm and cosy. They also fit well. Comfort and a dose of humour? What is there not to love? 

sweatshirts, 1984, warm, online clothing retailer,

All Tee, All Shade, a newly launched online retail brand, just released their new line of sweatshirts, guaranteed to be a conversation starter.

Each cotton, polyester blend sweatshirt is crafted for comfort with lighter weight fabric, making it so unbelievably snuggly that you’ll never want to take it off. Just pick your favourite saying and get cozy with humour.