Category Archives: Life & Style

Life & Style

Spirit of Aloha 65 Brings Christmas spirit & many festive cheers to you!

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aloha, cocktail, cocktail recipe, cocktail recipes, christmas cocktail recipeAloha images caption

Ok, we’re going to say it: it’s time to start thinking about the festive season.

Bring something bright and out of the blue to bonfires and dark nights. As summer comes to a close, it’s time to start thinking about winter fun. Let Aloha 65 bring a bit of spice to cosy evenings in, whether you’re hosting or having a chilled one.

The unique spirit has a full menu of winter serves to complement its tropical botanicals and warming notes of ginger and chilli, perfect for shaking up winter cocktails and causing a stir at your Christmas parties.

Why not have a go at a winter recipe out of the blue, like the Aloha Velvet? We love Aloha at Frost and this cocktail is delicious.

Ingredients
35ml Aloha 65
25ml brandy
25ml fresh orange juice
20ml fresh lemon juice
A dash of sugar syrup
1 egg yolk

Method
Add all ingredients into a shaker get shaking like you’re shivering!
Add ice and shake again. 
Strain into a glass full of ice
Garnish with 3 or 4 drops of Angostura bitters and cherry to serve.

Aloha 65 isn’t just a treat for your drinks cabinet; you can fire up your cheeseboard and canapes too. Scotch-bonnet chilli-infused pineapple ‘detonators’ are an appetiser on their own, or the perfect way to make retro cheese & pineapple a bit more exciting.  Not only that, but their ‘Sun on a Beach’ hot sauce goes so well with seafood and will really bring the flavour to your prawn cocktail starters.

Don’t let the tropical vibes fool you. The Aloha 65 bottle is wrapping up warm in its seasonal ski suit bottle wrap so brand mascot Lola really looks the part when she joins you on the slopes. Smooth enough to drink on its own, Aloha 65 is also the perfect cold-weather hip flask tipple.

Get ready for Christmas with Aloha 65, with discounts on 70cl multi-buys, gift sets and, with mini spritz kits for just £10, you can be sure to win your office Secret Santa with these stocking fillers.

You can find Aloha 65 on Amazon and discover the full range at aloha65.com.

Who says après ski can’t be tropical?

The back-story
Conceived and created by British expat barman, Stephen Thorp, at a beach bar in Florida some thirty years ago, the first homemade version of Spirit of Aloha 65 was designed to lure well-known and not so well-known surfers into his beach bar to refresh and revive them after a long day in the surf.   Thirty years or so later, and after many attempts (65 in fact), the first few bottles that met Stephen’s exacting standards were produced and Spirit of Aloha 65 came of age. Turns out, Stephen’s creation was not just a brilliant addition to the post-surf après-sea drinks menu, but was equally at home with the post-piste après-ski crowd. Available in ski and surf label editions.

The blend
Beautifully and naturally crafted, Aloha 65 ticks a lot of boxes: vegan, gluten free, and at under 47kcal per 25ml serve has less calories than an equivalent measure of gin or vodka (50kcal per 25ml serve). It’s made from only fresh ingredients with no added colourants.

So what sort of spirit is it? Well it’s not gin and it’s not vodka, but like those old stalwarts, Aloha 65 starts with a neutral grain spirit base.  However, unlike gin or vodka that an take just a few hours to make through a fire-based distillation process, Aloha 65 takes weeks to make and is made by separately and naturally infusing neutral grain spirit with just six very special raw ingredients including fresh pineapple, lemon, ginger and scotch bonnet chilli.  These ingredients macerate slowly in the neutral grain spirit for up to a month naturally steeping the alcohol with their individual flavours. The separate infusions are then carefully blended together et Aloha! Sunshine in a Bottle.

Its versatility means that it can be enjoyed as a delicious chilled shot, on ice, or a refreshing long-drink, or as the unique heart of a great cocktail. It is proudly all-natural, vegan and has a lower ABV (27%).  One sip and you’ll know what all the fuss I about.  If you’ve never heard of, or believed in, ‘Sunshine at First Sip’, you have now.  Many people seem genuinely surprised that it is still possible to create something quite new and different in the spirits category but Stephen’s years of dreams and hard graft have certainly been worth it.  Trust us – you’re in for a treat.

A brand with a difference
Spirit of Aloha 65 offers the consumer something very different both to look at and to taste.  With its coastal roots, Spirit of Aloha 65, was born of the surf, sun, sand and sea but is equally at home in the mountains and on the slopes. The vintage and retro branding has universal appeal and the branding screams: ‘Life is for living’ and ‘Have fun!’.  ‘Lola’, our iconic surf girl and ‘Al’ her buddy, don’t just surf, they ski!  Of course, they do!  The ski/surf winter bottles are a must this winter to create that lock-down après ski vibe.  Oh, and how many spirit brands do you know that also have a hot sauce?

Integrity
‘Aloha’ isn’t just a friendly greeting, it’s a way of life.  It puts a smile on your face.  Alohans, as we like to call them, live each moment to the full and always bring their A-Game, but with respect for others and their environment.  Aloha 65 is proud to be partnering with Plastic Oceans, donating 5% of its profits to the charity to help preserve the planet and its natural diversity for generations to come.  Aloha 65 is also supporting the promotion of “The Last Glaciers”, a new film about climate change, glaciers and the fate of our planet. Aloha 65 is vegan and made with only natural ingredients.

Aloha Sour

Ingredients:
35ml aloha,
10ml velvet falernum,
10ml cherry brandy,
2 dash cherry bitters,
10ml lemon juice,
egg white

Method
Add all ingredients into a shaker and dry shake (no ice).
Add ice and shake again.
Strain into a coupe.
Garnish with 3 or 4 drops of Angostura bitters and cherry

Available on Amazon.

The UK’s first plant-based recipe box. We Review Grubby.

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I find cooking stressful. I also have no time. But I want to eat healthy and I do not want to damage the planet while doing so. Grubby attracted my attention for many reasons. It is plant-based and sustainable. I got sent two kits in impressive recyclable packaging. I hate how some recipe boxes have so much plastic.

The recipe card is so easy to follow. I made a superb mushroom stroganoff in 35 minutes. I think Grubby is fantastic and I cannot recommend it enough. The food is delicious and so easy to make.

Meet Grubby – the UK’s first plant-based recipe kit

Grubby are the UK’s first 100% plant-based recipe box subscription service on a mission to make plant-based cooking more accessible and convenient without costing the earth.

Championing British produce and suppliers, Grubby deliver delicious meals nationwide (excluding Northern Ireland and islands), with all London meals delivered via bicycle in partnership with PedalMe. Available from grubby.co.uk from £26 (£6.50 per meal) for two recipes.

Launched in 2019, Grubby has over 50 flavour packed recipes to choose from. In the box, customers can expect fresh, pre-measured ingredients needed to cook up two or three healthy and delicious, plant-based recipes with, on average, a variety of six or more fresh veggies in each box. Accompanying recipe cards make meat-free cooking simple, with easy to follow steps, cooking times and nutritional information, as well as QR codes to curated Spotify playlists to cook along to whilst prepping. Customers can also expect the occasional freebie, from drinks, desserts and more.

Founder Martin Holden-White comments: “When I first started adventuring into plant-based cooking, I found it really hard to approach. Mainly because I found ingredients hard to source, dishes weren’t filling enough, they lacked flavour and online recipes were hard to follow and full of ads. So with Grubby, I wanted to alleviate the uncertainty and stigmas around vegan cooking and eating and make our recipes accessible, simple, hearty, healthy and most importantly tasty! Grubby is for anyone looking for a little more adventure when it comes to plant-based cooking.”

With sustainability at its core, the packaging is 100% recyclable, compostable, ethically sourced, and produced in the UK in 95% of cases, with intentions to be completely plastic-free by 2023, in line with their efforts to reach B-Corp status. Determined to use ‘pedal power’ wherever possible, all London deliveries are made by bike and they have ambitions for bike deliveries in all major cities across the UK. Their food waste is offset through food waste partners and local food banks to ensure that no grub goes unused.

Passionate about giving back, Grubby donate a meal to a child in poverty for every box delivered through Uganda based charity 1moreChild. In 2020, Grubby also provided over 1,000 meals to London NHS hospitals.

Whilst solely plant-based recipes, Grubby do not see themselves as a ‘just-for-vegans’ box. “We are not preachy about eating solely plant-based. I’m a plant-based part-timer myself, and many of our team and customers do not define themselves as vegan.” says Martin.  “Instead, we want to invite plant curious individuals to give veggie-based cooking a chance with our tasty, quick to prepare meals, which are not only healthy but produced and delivered with sustainability at the core of everything we do.”

How it works:

  1. Choose your recipes & delivery date.

  2. Grubby delivers everything you need.

  3. You cook up delicious plant-based meals. No stress. Skip or cancel anytime.

To see what’s on the menu this week, visit grubby.co.uk

SIMONSTONE HALL HOTEL: A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES

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Jane Cable reviews a rather special country house hotel

Sometimes when you’re travelling, quite unexpectedly you come across a real gem of a place that you know you’ll go back to time and again. And that’s what happened when we spent a few nights at Simonstone Hall Hotel near Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales.

Arriving late on a wet afternoon, I have to say the building looked a bit grim from the outside; very grey and mullioned, but the welcome inside was as warm as could be, and our ‘estate room’, while not large, was extremely cosy. The bathroom was state of the art (so much so it had one of those extremely trendy rainfall showers that deluged half the floor), the bed comfortable, and there was proper coffee for the cafetiere. And that view… did I mention the view?

Simonstone still has the feel of a proper country house and we walked past a number of well-furnished living… or should I say drawing… rooms, overlooking the terrace with its rattan furniture and firepit, and perfect for curling up in with a good book or meeting friends for a chat. We walked past them because we’d had a long journey and were heading for the bar, where we received yet another warm welcome and a decent choice of drinks, including some locally brewed draft ale.

We were coming to realise that friendly staff and great customer service are at the heart of everything Simonstone does. You are quickly on first name terms with the people looking after you because they introduce themselves that way, and while everything happens as it should and when it should, there is still a very relaxed feel about the place, something you don’t always associate with a country house hotel. It was clear most of the guests were not on their first visit, and that in itself is always a recommendation.

The food was very good too. There were five or six dishes to choose from for each course and my gluten intolerance was catered for without fuss – there were even delicious warm bread rolls and quality gluten free crackers to accompany the cheese. Unlike a Michelin starred establishment we stayed in later in the week that thought it was OK to serve supermarket sliced GF bread. But I digress… at Simonstone the style falls just on the cheffy side of hearty, and my beetroot and goat cheese starter was absolutely exquisite. Mains were robust and delicious, in particular the Wensleydale beef and Texel lamb. There were some interesting wines on the list too, with bottle prices starting at £22 so no-one was going to feel ripped off.

On our one full day at Simonstone we left the car where it was and walked. There are some wonderful footpaths to follow with steep climbs (optional) and dramatic views (everywhere) so we tramped until we were desperate to take our boots off. Returning to our room mid-afternoon, the only small fly in our ointment was that we’d run out of the excellent coffee. It seemed no sooner than we’d thought it than there was a knock on the door. It was a young lady with a basket over her arm, filled with goodies. We’d run out of coffee? Take two… and some more mineral water. Did we need anything else? Biscuits? Tea?

It kind of summed up Simonstone. The warm generosity of the place, the nothing too much trouble attitude. We’ll certainly be going back.

 

Simonstone Hall Hotel is currently offering autumn and winter breaks and fabulous Christmas and New Year packages. Check them out at https://simonstonehall.com

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Bob – Living with Alzheimers by Chris Suich

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Sunday and it’s Bob’s birthday. I have been preparing for a while. What can I do to make it special in his room and something he might recognise as a birthday? He doesn’t recognise me let alone anything else!

The caterpillar cake is a must, we often had one for our boys’ birthdays and for parties of any kind even when they were grown up. Maybe he might have a memory of those days. A ‘Happy Birthday’ balloon . He can read the words even if he doesn’t understand the meaning. I could tie it to his bed and it will look jolly. Obviously chocolate buttons – he associates them with my visits. I break them in half and they melt on his tongue. Lots of cards. Several have already come in the post. I will open them for him and read them to him, coaxing memories of each and every sender. A bottle of Prosecco. He loved it last birthday although I had to watch through a window last time. And,  the best news of all, our eldest son Joe can also come with me for the first time, at the same time. A whole two hours all together. What a bonus!

The morning started with our two friends delivering some gifts. A beautiful soft blanket and a 1970s football sticker book with all references of Arsenal clearly ear-marked with post it notes for me to read and show to him. How unbelievably thoughtful. How kind. Another present arrived on the doorstep a bottle of port. Two kind friends knew it was Bob’s favourite tipple and that I give him some in his beaker sometimes. Then another wonderfully thoughtful gift, a box of hot chocolate sachets. Bob’s favourite hot drink. Do they know how much their kindness buoys me up. I hope so.

Even Joe’s school friend and her little girl write and send a lovely card. Always supporting us and so kind and positive.

I am filled with a strange mixture of joyful anticipation tinged with anxiousness. I so want it to go well. I’m desperate to have a shared moment where he comes back to me. Even for a moment.

I really have thought of everything candles, knife for cake, napkins, cupcakes for the carers, bottle of fizz, presents, cards, chocs and the music playlist.

We have our lateral flow tests and wait 30 minutes. It’ll be ok, I have so many tests every week and a PCR and I’m very careful in my daily life.

Exactly 30 minutes after the negative test we are allowed in. Straight through the corridor to his room. Bob is sat in his chair next to his bed. Quiet, deep in his thoughts.

‘Hello, darling, Happy Birthday.’

‘ Happy Birthday, Dad! ‘

Vacant. This is going to be a bit of a struggle I thought, but I’ll get there by the end of the two hours. He’ll smile, or stare intently at my face or just hold my hands.

Joe will talk to him about Arsenal and he’ll repeat the names of players. I give him the blanket and tuck him in his chair with it. He clutches tightly at it. It’s lovely and soft. That’s a hit, I think.

‘ Hey Bob, look what I’ve got you, a birthday cake’ .
I light the candles and we sing happy birthday. He cannot focus on anything, perhaps he’s overwhelmed. I pick the cake up and put it in his eyeline and we sing again. This time he sees but can’t blow out his candles. We do it for him and clap and cheer.
‘ It’s your birthday Bob, you’re 69 today and it’s a good day because we’ve brought you cake and presents’
‘ Is it? ‘ he replies.
I remind him that I’m Chris and that I’m his wife. I tell him that Joe has come today too and he’s his son. ‘ Are you ?’ he asks.

I get his chocolate buttons and put a few in his mouth. He likes them. His mouth opens again signalling he wants more. I cut the cake. We have a piece each. I cut Bob’s bit into small squares. I tell him it’s birthday cake and it’s delicious. He takes it all on his tongue bit by bit and I put the drink in his beaker and tilt it so he can sip it.

‘ Bubbles’ he exclaims.

I’m so happy he’s remembered the bubbles. He enjoys a full beaker of Prosecco.

Then the cards. He cannot hold them or tear them open so I do that and read each one. The first is from Eddie, our youngest son.

‘ Look Bob, this is a nice card, it has a bear on it and it says Big Bear hugs. It’s from Eddie. He’s your boy and he’s in Australia. He loves you very much and sends you a big kiss’

Suddenly Bob shouted out,  ‘ Come now, come now’ . How amazing, he’s making sense and he wants to see Eddie. I said that we would ring him and he’d see him and talk to him. COVID-19 has made it impossible for our son to get home to see his Dad so this is all we can do.

The next card is from Bob’s brother and he’s sent him some photocopies of some pictures when he was young. How thoughtful. I show Bob and provide the narrative. I place all the cards on his windowsill. The bed is facing the windowsill so Bob will be able to see them from his bed or chair.

‘ Hip, hip, hooray,’ Bob says randomly. I wonder where that’s from and then realise he’s reading one of the cards. On the front it says ‘ Hip, Hip, Hurray, it’s your birthday’.

So I play the music. All picked as ‘our tracks’ or something that Bob loved. The Beach boys, David Bowie, ELO, and lots of Motown. I joke about me always bringing him good music and we have our own private disco. I dance about the room and we laugh and sing. Sometimes Bob calls out randomly. Or he makes sounds like he’s trying to sing. He tells me to ‘ Be careful’ . I tell him I will be. He starts to count, out of sequence, random numbers.

Music is the key that unlocks him. He tries to sit up and opens his mouth for a kiss. I kiss him and put my arms around him. I tell him I love him and he looks at me smiling and says, ‘She’s happy’.

I show him the pictures of us in his memory book.

Then he has us in stitches. ‘ There’s two of them’ he says pointing at the cushion that has a picture of me and Bob on. He’s saying there’s two Chris’s  – me and the one on the cushion. I tell him there’s only one of me! But we all have the giggles. Bob too because he’s joining in with us.

Joe holds his hand. It is a good visit. I think Bob has enjoyed it.

We tidy up and get ready to leave. I kiss him again lots of times and he suddenly says out of nowhere, ‘ You’re my wife. ‘

The tears flow. I can’t believe he’s said it. The carer comes back and my eyes are filled with happy tears.

‘Are you alright?’ she asks.

‘ Yes, I’m just a bit emotional. He’s just said I’m his wife and for that moment he knew me.’

Wonderful memory that will sustain me for a little while.

Happy Birthday, Bob. We had a good afternoon didn’t we?

Living with Alzheimer’s – I am an Essential Caregiver by Chris Suich

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At last, I’m Bob’s ‘essential care giver’!

It has been a tumultuous battle this year for me and many thousands more up and down the country who have been desperately fighting to see their loved ones in care homes for a year and more. Our loved one’s mental health and well-being have not being considered; the laws that are there to protect the vulnerable have been ignored. I was reading recently that there is a catastrophic hidden cost of Covid because many dementia sufferers have simply given up, refused food, and died because they do not understand why their loved ones have stopped coming to see them. Despair and loneliness the silent killer.
My husband went into care just a week before the first lockdown when there was no vaccine and limited knowledge about how to halt this pandemic’s spread. I understood why I wasn’t allowed in and resorted to waving from the road or at the window with the British spirit of ‘ stiff upper lip’ and put my own agonies aside as this terrible Covid 19 meant we all had sacrifices to make. I was kept away, not able to hold his hands –even outside in the summer when the R rate was low, even though I was willing to wear PPE and do anything else required.  Then he caught Covid inside the home but fought and got better from it. This was devastating and the site was closed – all window visits stopped and I heard nothing for two months until I begged the GP to check on him.

Today we are in a very different position; so it makes no sense why some care homes cannot follow the latest government guidance of April 2021 and allow indoor visits mitigating risk, using lateral flow tests and PPE for all care homes everywhere.

For my part, I have been well supported by the founders of John’s Campaign – Julia Jones and Nicci Gerrard, as well as Leigh and Day solicitors and Rights for Residents founders Diane Mayhew and Jenny Morrison. Their steadfast advice and ability to cut through the legislation to make it clear and understandable has been invaluable. The publicity they have commanded on media, TV and radio raising the profile of care home visiting and the articulate way Jenny spoke to the Harriet Harman  select committee recently has been both humbling and a cause for jubilation. She spoke for me and for everyone.

I did everything I could to try to persuade the manager to let me in. I explained about ‘end of life’ being 6-12 months not just imminent death. The guidance states this and also that visits should be facilitated. But to be brutally honest, it wasn’t until we sought legal advice and sent a letter that a meeting with the Regional manager was organised which resulted in making me an essential care giver. In addition, Joe, our eldest son has been made a  designated visitor when he can get freed up from his shifts in the hospital. There is a very detailed personalised risk assessment. I have PCR test and a  lateral flow with the carers and home staff weekly and another lateral flow test every time I visit. It is a small inconvenience. I can now see my Bob for two whole hours twice a week in his room. I am ecstatic.

Much has changed. He doesn’t ask to hold my hand anymore he’s forgotten how to hold hands. I still hold his though and stroke his hands and face. He doesn’t know who I am anymore but he knows I’m ‘lovely’. He rarely understands but he seems content and searches my face and loves it when I smile. I play him lots of music. The tracks from his youth. The bands he actually booked when he was President of the Entertainment Committee whilst at Sheffield University in the 70s. Our youngest son still in Australia has suggested a playlist.
I try to keep to a routine. He likes a hot chocolate and I feed it to him at 3 pm in a beaker every time I visit. I give him chocolate buttons on his tongue. I always play ‘Oblah  Dee Oblah dah’ and he has started to la la la which I’m thrilled  about. I think he’s happy when I’m there, he chitter chats in a completely non-sensical way but I go along with it all. I’m trying to get a little bit back from him and I’m succeeding. He looks better and is not so agitated. He lets me put his cardigan on without a fight and brush his teeth with a soft brush. He does still call out randomly and hallucinate but generally he’s content. I too am content. I can check he’s clean, his room is kept nice and he’s as healthy as can be expected. The carers are kind and courteous to me. I thank them. They cannot fail to see the bond between us. He’s still there deep inside and he does come back to me a little every visit.
So today I had another visit and it does us both good. I left him wrapped in the memory blanket with the pictures of our family on it.
I am very lucky to have this precious time and I pray that everyone will see their loved ones soon, before it’s too late.

Grow Healthy Babies: The Evidence-Based Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy

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grow healthy babies, pregnancy book, pregnancy, Being pregnant can feel like a minefield. Knowing what to eat and what to avoid can feel overwhelming. With allergies on the rise it adds more pressure. So I was excited to see the Grow Healthy Babies book. It is an evidence-based guide to reducing your child’s risk of asthma, eczema and allergies.

I was hoping it would not be a hippy-dippy book preaching to others what to eat and do, and I am happy to report it is not. It is a fantastic, well-researched book which backs up everything it says in droves. This book shows that you can make a huge difference to the health of your child, and it all starts in pregnancy. Pregnant women have more power than they realise.

While some of the research is not helpful to everyone- eating organic food is not within everyone’s range- I found the advice in this book invaluable. I would recommend it to anyone who is having a baby, or even thinking about getting pregnant. It is a truly great book and a triumph for the authors.

 

When lifelong asthma, eczema, and allergy sufferers Michelle Henning, a certified Nutrition & Health Coach, and her husband Dr. Victor Henning decided to become parents, they were well aware that half of all babies born today will develop allergies and up to a third will become asthmatic or suffer from eczema. Using their combined backgrounds in nutrition and science, they began investigating a mountain of medical literature on how to prevent chronic illness so that their baby would grow up healthy.

In their honest and enlightening new book Grow Healthy Babies, the Hennings share their research by distilling the latest medical evidence into a practical, easy to read guide that provides expecting parents with clear and simple steps to lower a baby’s risk of developing a chronic condition by up to 90%. With the goal of empowering parents-to-be or those planning to get pregnant with information about simple choices that improve their health and their child’s health, they cover a multitude of topics including:

  • You can make a difference: By making different choices during/after pregnancy, you have the power to shape your baby’s health for life
  • How your baby’s immune system develops, and how you can strengthen it to prevent chronic illness
  • How friendly bacteria, your microbiome, shape both your and your baby’s health, and how to protect and improve your microbiome
  • Which food choices and supplements during and after pregnancy make a real difference to your baby’s health, according to scientific studies
  • Why environmental factors and certain household products can trigger chronic disease, and how to choose healthier alternatives
  • How birth choices and breastfeeding can influence your baby’s long-term health

 

Grow Healthy Babies: The Evidence-Based Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy and Reducing Your Child’s Risk of Asthma, Eczema, and Allergies is available for pre-order at bookstores nationwide and online retailers such as Amazon.

Keeping Your Child Active

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While younger children may be more inclined to burn off energy by running around, especially during play with their friends, you want to nurture this activity to help them remain fit and healthy as they grow up. Looking into ways that you can promote an active lifestyle without turning it into a chore, or something that they find boring, can help them to enjoy staying active, as well as provide some great opportunities for getting outdoors and spending time together as a family.

Active Toys

Children learn to develop their skills via play, which is why the type of toys that you buy your child can impact their growth tremendously. To encourage your child to engage in more active or outdoor play, you may want to consider toys for the right age from Wicked Uncle. This can allow them to begin to discover games or skills that incorporate exercise. Something as simple as a child’s first bike can help them to discover a love of cycling which can be great for both travel and keeping fit. This can also allow you to venture out as a family, exploring the local area, with the journey becoming part of the adventure. 

Clubs

As your child grows up and starts school, a number of clubs may be offered to them, both by their learning provider as well as other institutions. Encouraging your child to sign up for sports clubs can enable them to learn more about social interactions and keep fit. Some other clubs your child may join might also provide them with life skills, such as the ability to swim. Children can often make lifelong friends by taking part in these clubs, as well as developing their abilities. Many children who attend sports clubs from when they are young often go on to continue enjoying and participating in that sport, even into adulthood.

Combination with a Balanced Diet

While keeping active is important for your child to grow up fit and healthy, their diet cannot be neglected. Even when undertaking exercise, poor food choices can still cause weight gain, as well as other health problems which may affect their enjoyment and longevity. By providing your child with correctly portioned food, rich in lean proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of fruit and vegetables, you will be enabling them to make better food choices as they grow up, as well as to provide their insides with the correct vitamins and minerals they require to function properly. It is also important, after activity, that you do not overcompensate by giving them an increased number of calories. 

While processed or greasy food should be kept to a minimum, these may be incorporated into your child’s diet to allow them to practice moderation, as well as to avoid binging on forbidden foods once they reach an age where they have more autonomy over purchasing food.

Considering ways to keep your child active and healthy now can help them to grow up with a good relationship with both food and exercise. 

Collaborative post with our brand partner.

Bridal Style Terminology Every Bride-to-be Should Recognize.

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wedding planning, wedding, weddings,When searching for a wedding dress online or in-store, many brides may come across unfamiliar terms. While this could be due to a multitude of reasons, it’s essential to understand these terms, as they often imply a wide range of bridal styles.

Particularly for brides searching for designer bridal wedding gowns online, knowing and understanding these terms may also make it easier to find her ideal dress. However, this knowledge also helps brides shopping in-store when meeting with bridal consultants to discuss what dresses to try on. 

Silhouettes

The silhouette of her gown is the first aspect a bride should narrow in on. Think of it as the outline of the dress, its overall shape. It tells how fitted a gown is and whether it hugs certain areas of the body tighter. A few typical silhouettes are:

  • Mermaid: A mermaid style silhouette is fitted at the bust, waist, and hips while flaring out at the knee. The flare gives the effect of a mermaid tail (hence the name). This style flatters curvy body types or women with wider hips than shoulders. 
  • A-line: An a-line silhouette is fitted through the waist while flaring out softly to create an ‘A’ shape, which offers increased mobility. This style works well for all body types.
  • Ball gown: This silhouette is more on the extravagant side. The ball gown often hugs in at the waist or hips and dramatically flares out for an hourglass effect, hence why this shape works well on women with an hourglass body shape. Ball gowns look great on thin women or women with broader shoulders as it gives the illusion of wider hips. 
  • Sheath: A sheath silhouette is a perfect alternative to a voluminous dress. The style hugs the body and drops straight to the floor, which elongates the bride’s shape. Petite women may find this style flattering.
  • Jumpsuit: This style is a one-piece with a top and long connected pants. There are versions that look great on all body types.

Necklines

The next element is to learn about different necklines. Simply put, the neckline is the top edge of a dress near the neck and chest. Some of the most popular necklines include:

  • Sweetheart: Just like the name suggests, the sweetheart neckline resembles the top half of a heart and gives the bride a leaner appearance. This neckline is very popular on strapless dresses. 
  • High neck: A high neckline dress provides the most coverage of any bridal style and comes up to the base of the neck or above.
  • Off-the-shoulder: The off-the-shoulder neckline is perfect for summer weddings, as it highlights the collarbones and shoulders with its draped sleeves. 
  • V-neck: A v-neckline is ideal for brides looking for the appearance of a longer torso. V-neck dresses appear in a ‘V’ shape and usually have straps or sleeves.
  • Straight across and Square: These necklines are similar in that the dress’s edge lies in a straight line across a women’s decollete. The difference is whether the gown is strapless or not.

Sleeve Styles

Depending on the season, a bride may opt for a dress with sleeves. Some of the most popular sleeve styles include: 

  • Long sleeves: These are more of a formal style and come down to the wrist without being over-the-top. Within the category of long-sleeved dresses is variation in sleeve style. Some dresses have fitted long sleeves made from just lace, while others feature illusion lace. Bell sleeves are another option; made popular in the 1970s but are currently making a comeback. 
  • Off-the-shoulder: These sleeves are great for highlighting the bride’s shoulders and collarbones in a very chic way. 
  • Cap sleeves: These are very short and flutter from the shoulder but does not feature any fabric underneath the arm.
  • Strapless: This style means there are no straps or sleeves on the dress, highlighting the neck, shoulders, and collarbone. For a traditional bride, long gloves look elegant with a strapless ball gown.
  • Puff sleeve: A puff sleeve is fitted at the bottom of the wrist with elastic to keep it in place. It offers a youthful look and can sometimes look bohemian if done right. 
  • Spaghetti strap: These are more of a dainty detail and hold up the dress without covering the arms.

Waistlines

The waistline may seem insignificant compared to the other elements of a wedding dress. However, it adds a signature defining area to the silhouette. Some popular waistline styles to consider are: 

  • Basque waistline: The seams on the basque create a ‘U’ or ‘V’ shape in the front and are on hourglass ball gowns.
  • Empire waistline: This waistline sits just below the bust and is high and raised, creating a tall and slender appearance. 
  • Dropped waistline: This waistline drops to the thighs, creating a leaner and longer torso. This is not necessarily the same as the mermaid style.
  • Medium/natural waistline: This waistline sits at the bride’s natural waist, offering more comfort. 

Trains

The train of a wedding dress adds extra length to the end of the dress. The most common train styles include: 

  • Sweep: This is the shortest train for a dress, at about 10 inches long, and is perfect for outdoor weddings. 
  • Court: The court train is the same size as the sweep, except it extends from the waist rather than the hem. 
  • Chapel: This is 3 feet from the waist and is perfect for brides who want simple.
  • Cathedral: This train is 6 feet from the waist and suits indoor weddings the best.

Terminology Is Helpful 

With so much variation in the style of wedding dresses, researching and understanding bridal terminology before shopping can make the experience much less stressful. It’s helpful for brides to understand what they want but also for when it comes to explaining what kind of dress they’re looking for with ease. 

 

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