Louise Usher - A Lusher Life

How to decide to GO FOR IT! Making your dreams come true

2013-06-24T04:13:00.000-07:00

Just recently while at the gym, I bumped into two very good friends of mine.

These ladies had seen my blog and have known for a long time about my book writing. They asked me, "Well, I really want to write a book but have no idea how to get it out there."
I say 'asked me' yet in an English Literature class at school this actually isn't a question but rather a statement.

So, why are YOU telling yourself with a statement that you can't get it out there? Or make the changes? Or do what you need to do to create your dream life? Your 'lusher life'.
Let's look at turning this around....

What CAN you do to enable yourself one little move in the direction of making your dream come true'? How can you begin? There will be some small way, honestly. I have been making these moves for sometime and have managed to get literally stacks of work done. You can too.

There are many authors who have written books while still working the day job to enable them to pay the bills. Of course, you must be sensible obviously. If you decided after reading this blog, "Right, she's right, that Louise has made me decide to completely change my life starting right now!" and you haven't taken common sense into the equation then possibly things will not work out so well. Figure it out with a little sense. While you are fitting in your dreams, you are working towards them without the changes spoiling your current situation. In other words, you are taking steps to IMPROVE life without going crazy and making your life in a worse situation.

Ok, enough of the negative stuff now as we don't like to do that here. So, what do you want? I ask you that question on lots of my blogs. This blog is about creating your Lusher Life. What do you want? Imagine you want to write a book. In your break at work, like lunchtime or even coffee break, start writing. Don't overcomplicate the tools you need. You can use your phone, we all have the facility these days to write some lines on our phone. Even without a smart phone, text it to yourself. Write wherever you are.
If, as another example, you decided you need to take a course, or learn something new, use podcasts, or YouTube to educate yourself on your commute or again during your lunchbreak.

First step is this: Imagine that it is all possible! Use my word 'do-able'. Is it do-able? Don't find excuses or reasons. Find ways to do it. The only one who can change your life is you.

I'm spending lots and lots of time coaching these past few weeks and the mindsetting is always the first step to making changes. Let me know if you feel you would like some help too. I will very bravely be inviting (anonymous if you like) texts to my personal phone for free pretty soon. FREE. I will invite you to send me your text or email to me personally with your question. I may use these questions to answer in a blog too if that's ok with you. Let's be brave together?
Thing is, you need to subscribe to my blog or email list (right hand side of the blog page) to get this number as it's coming later. Also, if you come over to my email list there is a future audiobook "Basics to the Law of ATTRACTION' as a free gift for you.

Your dream life:
Can you do it?
WILL you do it?

Much love

Louise xx

ps written while a client is taking her coffee break - using my new wireless keyboard, my iphone and a little app called 'wordpress'

See this video here to find out how I got on when I manifested my new VW GOLF

Louise Usher - A Lusher Life: We all have a book inside us

2013-06-24T04:01:00.001-07:00

Louise Usher - A Lusher Life: We all have a book inside us: Of course, ALL of my clients are GORGEOUS and I love spending time with them... Yet this past week has been so enlightening. I saw a...

We all have a book inside us

2013-03-11T03:11:00.002-07:00

Of course, ALL of my clients are GORGEOUS and I love spending time with them...

Yet this past week has been so enlightening. I saw an amazing lady who has become so inspired with a couple of courses she has been on.

Mindsetting courses mostly, though I'm pretty sure that these BRILLIANT people organising the day would elaborate on that instantly. Rightly so!

Well this fantastic lady (with the BOLD purple hair!) came along and shared something with me that seemed to get her some fire in her belly. Now many of us have heard the expression, 'we all have a book inside us'.... Have you? Well, I've heard this many times during my journey of telling people about my books, especially the one relating to my IVF journey.

Nodding with interest they often reply, "well, we all have a book inside us." Without expectation, I have sent some of these folks a snippet from the forthcoming book and they have seemed surprised, delighted and quite frankly have been totally supportive of my dream! LOVE IT.

So, I believe that my lady is now chewing over the most passionate way in which to convey her knowledge into a book form. She believes it can wonderfully accompany her complimentary therapy business. If she believes that then I believe she could be right. Remember

Ask

Believe

Receive

If nothing else, it's a great way to get you to remember the "i before e except after c" rule.... :O)

Seriously, I couldn't leave out the chance to mention the lovely Law of Attraction rule there. So good luck to this amazing lady. I'm just off to write her a testimonial for an awesome treatment she kindly gave me!

Meanwhile, I'd love to add this web address if you feel you have a book inside you. I've found a real gem out there who is totally ahead of the game when it comes to lots of technical information about getting your book published (and of course written!)... her name is Joanna Penn.

http://www.thecreativepenn.com

Really soon (I promise) I'm going to be uploading a Youtube vlog about going for your dreams. You must come over and see that! http://www.youtube.com/louiseusher

Wishing you an awesome day and a Lusher Life

Louise x

Let me know if you feel I can help you into a Lusher Life

The book I'm reading in the photo is from www.liloumace.com who is a totally amazing lady inspiring millions. Take a look.

www.lusherlife.co.uk

Improving profits overnight - salons and other businesses

2013-03-07T03:48:00.001-08:00

Salon owners and in fact all business owners can sometimes feel shy to charge properly for their service.

This little video can give you one way to change things overnight. Have a listen, build yourself a little bit of confidence!

http://youtu.be/_gNw82vEi5c

Wishing you an amazing day - and a Lusher Life

Louise Usher
www.lusherlife.co.uk
www.facebook.com/louiseushercoach
www.twitter.com/louiseusher

"The Crazy ideas keep going round and round in my head!" - is this you?

2013-02-27T09:07:00.001-08:00

The crazy ideas keep going round and round my head

Just like the now famous song, "The Climb", sometimes, we are so busy striving for the things we dream of. When you reach the top of the mountain you may well find yourself looking for another mountain to climb.

Why? Well the reason is simple. Very often we find the thrill of the chase is in setting out with a dream, a passion unfulfilled or indeed the drama of trying to create a reality out of your own dream.

Does this sound true? Are you a person who loves to keep thinking of new ideas all the time? Have you often found people might say things to you like, "You are always dreaming up new things, try sticking to one thing."
This is called the entrepreneaur. This is who you are. Cut yourself some slack and realise that you are indeed a person who will frequently drive yourself crazy, be your own critic and also indeed wish you had an 'on/off' switch for your brain. Especially while driving the car or listening to someone who you are far from interested in. You might even go so far as to use your "hairdressers ear" and nod in the right places or indeed
"Hmm",
"Ahh" and
"Oh really" in all the right places while you are switched off but tapped into your own brain. This, my friend, is not a bad thing. Yet it drives you NUTS.

Ok, anaylse yourself. As you are the person who has the best perception of what will work for you and what won't.

What WILL WORK FOR YOU AND WHAT WON'T?

You have tried lots of ideas which were great, might have even made you money, yet you hated it. Something called your Solar Plexis (or gut feeling) alerts you to the fact that this just didn't sit right with you. So how do you sort out what you do want? Which idea should you go with and which ideas should you write on a peice of paper, screw up and throw away?

The coach in me has decided to speak to you here and now and ask you to listen to within. At times, you can feel so totally broke or "textbook" says things are going wrong. These can often be the times that you are happiest. Can you explain why? Not always! Something from within loves these feelings for some reason and therefore you need to listen closely to them. Do this and you are on route to a brilliant life.

So how? Louise, tell me how?

I didn't tell you how yet did I? You can sort out your "Stuff"..........it's pretty straightforward and you can do this clearly in your coffee break. Ask me using my email louise@stranddesigns.co.uk and I will send you a FREE formula that will stop the spaghetti brain and also will help you focus and love yourself for taking ten minutes to sort it out!

If you love this please help someone else towards a Lusher Life and forward/share/like/love....................and don't keep it a secret

Much love -

Louise Usher

Creator of a Lusher life
Twitter: @louiseusher

Gaining control of your business- gaining control of self esteem

2013-02-27T08:17:00.001-08:00

You made it!!!!

Fantastic!! Your dreams came true and that inner confidence you gained has given you enough adrenalin to get your business off the ground. Those sleepless nights of crazy ideas and jotting things down
* Asking friends for help
* Finding creative ways of getting help with minimal cost
* Driving round half asleep
* Getting some press coverage
* Painting and decorating (you thought you were a hairdresser?)

And your business is open!!

Woo hoo - congratulations!

Now what? You have hired the best staff in the business and you have found they know LOTS about thier craft or skill. Exactly what you wanted! Brilliant.

Problem is, some of the staff may be more skilled than you, some may be older than you, some may sell more products than you.

This, little by little, wears away at your self esteem. You feel like you lost control. Oh no, how did that happen? What happened to the drive, passion and ambition? Let me tell you, it's still there and you still have it in you to be the LEADER you dreamed of being. You can do this but how?

Decide exactly what it is that makes you feel you have a low self esteem. Do your staff listen to you? Do they respect you? Are you behaving like a leader?
Maybe the problem just lies within you. Maybe you are questioning yourself. Are you good enough?

Of course you are good enough. How you turn it around is a question you can answer within yourself but you need some help sometimes to realise this. If you walk around like a victim about to be picked over by the vultures who are your staff then guess what? .... they are going to do exactly what you think they will. The BEST way forward is to physically begin by walking tall, by COMMANDING respect from the staff, by being a LEADER.

Find the answer within yourself and decide what is keeping you low, then go ahead and turn it around.

If you feel you would like some further direction on this or need to talk things over with someone who can listen knowingly (I've seen it all from previous clients) then go ahead and ask me for some help. louise@stranddesigns.co.uk

Much love

Louise

Summer Nights - Promoting your salon

2012-04-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

Now that the lighter evenings are here again, is this the best time to start promoting your salon?

ABSOLUTELY!!

Any time of year is good to hold an event in Salon and get your creative juices flowing. Yet these light evenings will allow passers by to see what is going on and possibly get involved. If you are in a high footfall area such as the High Street, there will be more passers by than winter time right now.

Balloons may not be the best way to attract potential new clients - eye catching nevertheless - but do let your feet touch the pavement. Step just outside the salon with smartly dressed staff and get passers by involved.

* Give away chocolate truffles laid nicely out on a silver platter - along with a brilliantly produced pice of literature. This could be your price list, a postcard with an offer or a simple leaflet.

* Always, always, always without fail include within your artwork your contact details via twitter, facebook and linked in. Clients find this an easy way to research you.

*Brief your staff before the event. Better still, hire in an industry expert. Staff should be dressed smartly with immaculate hair and make up. They ARE your advertising.

* PLAN plan plan in advance. Ensure plenty of attendance. Email your clients, ask them to bring friends - post to facebook and twitter. Get your staff to post to their accounts too! Give away promotional leaflets as every client leaves. Display posters in your windows.

*Make the date at least 6 weeks away

* Decide on an order of events for the night - for example
-Free consultations with the stylists
-Nail treatments/hand massage
-A talk about your retail products and how to improve hair health
-Glass of bubbly
-Local hair accessory company to sell goods (you agree a % share)
-Give aways of pens, mugs
-A raffle

* Have a pot for local business owners to pop their business cards into to go into a draw for a free cut and blow dry. This can then be advertised as a networking opportunity. Follow up with emails to say thank you for coming and would they like to be added to your newsletter

There are so many wonderful ideas for this event. You want people to leave feeling as though it was a night of great information and give aways. They must want to come to the next one. They must want to tell all their friends about this amazing salon.

Watch your profile get raised.

Watch your profits grow!

The Negatives of being Positive

2012-03-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

How can being positive be negative?

What do I mean?

Well, being a positivity coach, people often wonder how can you be positive all of the time. Really good question.

You can’t.

“What????” You ask.

Well have a think about it. If my job is to sell how wonderful it is to be happy, positive and look on the bright side - then shouldn’t I be able to do that ALL of the time?

Opinions of others looking on seem to make a difference as to how that positivity is directed. For example, some who feel low like to attack those who are using proven methods to raise their positive vibrations.

Using positive language and body language coupled with visualisation and intentions, top off with the art of allowing and you certainly can make life different.

Does a positivity coach remember this all of the time?

Of course not.

Should it be proven that a positivity coach/trainer has always had the perfect life? Of course not! How can they then know what it feels like to be so far down the emotional scale that you find it near impossible to climb your way back up again?

How can they empathise with life’s troubles?

How can they properly understand you?

How will they know (this is a good one!) the feeling of achieving your dreams and turning life around?

This positivity coach (me) - has her fair share of life’s challenges to deal with right now as we speak. Does it mean my life is doom and gloom? Far from it. Don’t shoot me for it! It’s part of the process.

Studying this, I have learnt that to experience euphoric feelings, we absolutely must know what it’s like to feel life’s lows. Without them life would be on one level. Life would feel very “nothing” or empty. We need different emotions.......else we would be like the Stepford Wives, or some other robot who just does/says/acts in a perfect way every day!

What makes us human beings is having emotions. Feeling low is not a bad thing. Just appreciate the fact that there is always something to be thankful for even then.

Imagine someone who has no eyesight for example......they would love to have your eyes, being able to see the spring flowers in bloom. How amazing and beautiful! How lucky are you to have your eyes? Wow. Journal these gratifying thoughts!!! Every day.......at least 3.

So why do we have the lows?

Did you get it?

Lows = able to appreciate the highs.

Just don’t wallow.

Use techniques that are personal to you to get you up there again. Start with feeling “up there” for 2 minutes, then 3, then more and more.

What makes you smile? What makes you feel amazing?

Loud dance music, dancing like a loony in the kitchen?

Stroking the cat?

Looking over old photos?

Watching DVD’s?

Counting your millions?

Holding someone you love (even better, kissing them!)

Planning a trip?

Writing a letter?

Walking in nature?

Listening to the waves?

Whatever makes you get back up on your feet and feel like the you that you really are, brings you back into alignment with yourself that you were created to be.

Life is meant to be easy and happy..........now, I’ll finish on a very realistic, non airy fairy way that shows you I’m having this human experience too.....life isn’t always plain sailing, yet it is meant to be. So, use your tools, your friends, educate yourself, listen within and find the way forward for yourself to get back up there again.

Much love x

A Lusher Life seminar - turning life around using the Law of Attraction

2012-01-02T15:42:00.000-08:00

A Lusher Life - Tickets

A Lusher Life seminar – how to turn life around using the Law of Attraction

Since you ask, “So what exactly are these seminars?” I’ll tell you.

We don’t want everyone to know as they will all want a piece of it. So it’s just between you, me and the World Wide Web……ok.?

Now of course we do want everyone to know – what once was – The Secret. So this is the reason I am holding my seminars/workshops. Even you (YOU) can be totally in control of your life and manifest everything you wish for using the power of positivity.

How do I know this? Myself, I have managed to turn life around and I’m so thankful to say I have more ups than downs. Whereas before, I used to be a person who always had something ‘happening to them’.

You may be nodding now, knowing this is you. Why doesn’t that friend return the phone call? Why do you seem short on money? Why do you catch every red traffic light? Why? Why? Why?

By learning how to use the law of attraction in everyday life, I have started to create the life of my dreams and wishes and feel it is a real need to show you how to do this too. The future is bright, and full of exciting workshops to show you how to change life for the better. I am also so excited to be helping businesses who want to help staff to have a better outlook, be appreciative of the good things in life and be able to attract even more good stuff! The businesses I have worked with have seen a real turn around and it is even affecting their profitability. I didn’t doubt it would, maybe they did.

2012 sees me now taking on speaking events again which is even more exciting than before. I’m just an ordinary girl with an extraordinary story.

The next event which is Tuesday 24^th January will be telling you a bit about how to create the life and we will then show you :The Art of Allowing. Without this you may take all the correct steps to manifest more money, your perfect partner, the perfect body, health, travel and so on but you will not see the rewards. The Art of Allowing is crucial.

So tickets are now on sale by clicking here:

A Lusher Life - Tickets

We are also going to encourage a half hour networking opportunity to begin with. This will give all of you the chance to exchange business cards and introduce what you do. Think BIG.

You can see some video testimonials from the last fully booked workshop by clicking here:

You Tube Testimonials from workshops

Getting attuned to Reiki

2011-12-29T08:53:00.000-08:00

Big day today……..I’m soon to receive my reiki attunement.

So, what does this mean? Well, to be totally honest, I’m not really sure I understand it.

What I would like to think is that it will allow me to open myself up to understanding and knowing the universal laws even better than I do now.

Asking the universe this one question creates magic: “What can I do to allow even more openness?”

You can use these type of questions all the time to open up possibilities.

• How does it get even better than this?

• What can I do in this situation?

• Universe, help to show me what I need to do

And the list goes on…..

Asking Joanne what exactly to expect, she seems to think this is something that I am worried about. However, I can say I’m not worried. I trust Joanne with my life. This is the lady who helped me look after my children while I went back to college to retrain. If I trust her with my children, I trust her with my life. End of.

Breaking down barriers. This is something that Joanne has told me to expect. Barriers I have put up to protect myself may well come down. This does concern me slightly. I pride myself on being a strong woman. What if suddenly I cannot be strong anymore? Cancel that thought. Use the art of allowing.

What is the art of allowing you ask? Allowing something is just letting something happen. Stop worrying about it, let it be and let it just do whatever it’s going to do. Leave it to fate you might say…. At the end of the day, call it what you will, yet know that worrying about things, being afraid of things or unnecessary fretting Is not going to change things. Being positive, expecting a good outcome, thinking everything is for a good reason is the art of allowing. Let go of the past bad stuff, know it’s part of the journey that we are all on.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Last night, I slept at Joannes house. This house has such a lovely, homely feel to it. Cannot explain it.

Joanne and I had a conversation last night about ‘not being able to explain something’ .

“If you cannot explain it, then it is something that is coming from within. From a source of what we are made up from. All that we are is working in other ways than our conscious thoughts and conscious feelings. When we say we cannot explain it to someone else, this gives it even more substance. It’s coming from inside. We cannot quantify it, yet must not question it either. Especially if it is a strong feeling that feeling right or wrong.”

Wise words, clever lady.

The room I slept in was full of crystals. Now, I’m not totally sure of crystals and all of their meanings but apparently I may have experienced “A clearing”. I woke totally soaked with sweat and the good thing was, I was totally full of direction, ideas and positivity that I must head in a certain direction. This was with my writing and my wishes of helping others in life with weight loss goals, fertility and and and and and……woah I’m sooooo ready to go…….

Looking forward to getting away to my beloved second home, Egypt next week, I’m feeling very grounded and the future feels so rosy.

So, I’ll write more after finding out about the history of Reiki.

Exciting times!

Well, the whole story of Reiki is pretty impressive and just a little bit scary.

There is definitely more to life than what we can put our hands on, what we can see and what we can comprehend.

During my lesson, I found out that through the power of meditation, we can create so many answers for ourselves that were previously unanswered.

Attunement took place, whatever that really is……but some sort of magical power that opens me up to the power of Reiki. Right at the very end of this I could see a really bright white star appear.

Looking remarkably like a star that you would find on a Christmas card, directly above a camels head in front of the hills.

After doing my practice Reiki sessions on my 3 family members, I was shocked to know that my husband spoke right at the end of his session that he saw a bright white star just like the one you see on a Christmas card……..woahhhhhhhhh.

Well for sure, this stuff worked, my hands got very hot in certain places on the body and there was a feeling within me that there is very much something going on inside of all of us that is more than unexplainable. I felt a sense of peace and tranquillity. Knowing that no matter what journey life takes us on this crazy path, all will always be well.

All is well.

We are loved.

Gratitude - Just a word until something is taken away from you?

2011-12-21T11:38:00.000-08:00

Guilty as charged m’lord!

How about you? Are you guilty too?

For sure I am, despite my best efforts to try and appreciate everything. That said, yesterday from my sick bed I watched a hilarious episode of “Friends” where Phoebe had a boyfriend who was so upbeat about everything in sight. It was nauseating! Different from him, I can see the bad in some things but choose not to let it into my space to make me feel blue.

So, what exactly is gratitude? Let’s talk about health for a minute; we walk around in our happy bubble appreciating nature or something else beautiful that we can write about in our gratitude journal, not always realising the comfort our bodies are in. Have you ever suffered at the hands of a basic need like going to the loo? Or being able to chew? Let’s think of a water infection – ouchie – now doesn’t that make you realise how comfortable you were prior to the water infection?

Have you ever sat there suffering and thinking this exact same thing? Uh hummm sister me too, I feel your pain!

Being well and healthy is something that we all very much take for granted which is a good thing. Were we to spend time worrying all the time about which illness we might get next, well, frankly that’s another whole illness in itself isn’t it!

When that health is taken away, however temporarily, it sure does make us realise that we were so lucky previously to this. Can you see my point? Where am I heading? Well maybe you already keep a gratitude journal. They can be so powerful. Every single day you realise that even if it might be one of those days you put down to being a ‘bad day’ there will be at least 3 things you can list in your gratitude journal. As you do this, you will in simple terms, realise there is a reason to be cheerful – (wasn’t that a song?) – in complex terms you will raise your vibrational frequency which will in turn take you higher and higher up the emotional scale. This is excellent news!

What is the emotional scale? Now that’s a long answer and a whole other blog……let me tell you a secret (one we want everyone to know about) you want to be as close to the top as possible. What emotion is at the top?

Joy

And that, my friends, is the meaning of life…………

Manifesting the perfect new boots

2011-12-21T11:26:00.000-08:00

My ankle was sprained.

Well, that was the good news.....it could have been broken of course......but thank goodness it was no break, "just" a sprain. Now this was 6 weeks ago and I was still really struggling to walk on the glamourous high heels I loved so much. Like the desert loves the rain! So, accepting that I either walk semi-normally on flatties or walk like a really badly injured person on heels, I opted - without question or agenda - for flatties.

Last years "ugg" boots (which were definitely not ugg boots but this is the easiest way for you to 'get the jist') were starting to do that little 'off to the side' walk all of their own accord! So this was not my smartest look, although definitely comfortable and for sure the warmest. The other flat boots I had let in the rain and left me walking, with shoes, in a puddle!

Cut to the chase, I needed new boots. I loved the 'riding boots' that were all the rage this year and I wouldn't have minded some of those but it wasn't the look I wanted. After looking in many different shops I was almost resigned to the fact that my only choice seemed to be the riding boots for this winter.

Visiting the gorgeous London lights took me into River Island on Regent Street.

There they were!! The perfect boots, I loved them so much. "Yee haa" screamed out to me, so a little cowboy type of thing, you know. Although they were out of my budget that I'd set myself for the boots, considering it was coming up to Christmas too. Damn.....

Giving up on the boots idea totally while accepting the fact I'll be walking in puddles, I shopped few days later for a Christmas gift that is still a pre Christmas secret (so I won't tell you here what it was!). Thinking I had finished shopping for the day, I headed back to the car when on the way a shoe shop "called" to me!!!

"SALE"

Ohhh, this could be interesting. So in I went, with this magnetic force pulling me in!! Finding the size 6's was easy. Straight to the back of the shops..........YEE HAA boots in there!!
Woahhhhhhh
PERFECT!

I picked them up to look for the price tag. All the other boots in the sale had a red price tag. No Red price tag here. Not these boots.........I looked, there was another pair, identical! FAB.

No price.

Hmm.

Lady with a badge was there so I asked, "If there is no red tag does that mean these aren't in the sale?"
She replied, "I'll go and find a price for you." Without further delay she was gone, one YeeHaa boot in hand...........have a little guess what I did?

I put a request in to the Universe, whispering: "Make it £15 please."

Then I waited.........

The lady came back............ "They are 15."
"Fifteen pounds?" I asked, astounded to the point of almost falling over.
"Yes." She replied in an 'of course' voice.
"Ok, I'll take those!" I exclaimed before I realised I should try them on. Of course, they were a perfect fit!

Till exchange taken care of, perfect boots in possession........

YEE HAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Universe!

Gratitude - Just a word until something is taken away from you?

2011-11-22T09:49:00.000-08:00

Guilty as charged m’lord!

How about you? Are you guilty too?

Have you ever sat there suffering and thinking this exact same thing? Uh hummm sister me too, I feel your pain!

Joy

And that, my friends, is the meaning of life…………

Perceptions of Paradise

2011-11-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

Knowing we are all different is commonplace.

Accepting that can be a little tough.

Realising what makes us -and others- tick is a fascinating subject and one that has brought me to a place of new found freedom.

Having spent the last few days completely connected to the source within me (some of you may know what I mean when I say I’m in the vortex) I have been taken to a place which has again opened my eyes to a new world.

Since turning 40 I seem to be learning so much! You would think you know everything by then....

So, what is Paradise?

Sharing with you my thoughts and feeling of paradise may be what one other person sees as an idea of hell on earth. Sounds pretty obvious right? Well, it is! I’m not telling you anything new when I say we all have objective opinions. Here in Egypt this week I have met some amazing people as always and as I have felt so open in my vortex, it’s easy to freely communicate with new folks.

To me, where I am right now, is pure heaven on earth.

Paradise:

I’ll enlighten to you how I see it......

Red sea full of fish, like a scene from “Finding Nemo” yet better than that is being in the hands of experienced divers who give you the total feeling of safety.

How can it be that the very same waters which houses some dangers can set you so at peace. When you look under water and see the natural tranquility that glides effortlessly throughout the waters everyday, the rest of the world seems so far away.

At the end of every resort (built for the holiday makers) there is a pier. Don’t imagine Eastbourne or Brighton. Much much more simple. Less complex making way for the natural beauty.

Which is, a backdrop of mountains, the red sea, the shimmering clear waters.

Just this morning a heron came to greet me at 6am on my windy walk. Like a well rehearsed actor he glided in settling in front of me, watching for fish.

Excited, I grabbed my camera and took dozen of photos of him catching his breakfast. Despite the brightness of the suns rays blinding the pictures, I was sure there were some fab photos on there. Literally with fists punching the air with excitement, I could have screamed out,

“YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!”

Nature is a wonder of beauty. She is all around. Being here gives me the freedom to experience really seeing her. Not looking at, but looking through, feeling her, experiencing her, letting her in and soaking her all up.

Loving nature as I do, I always connect and ground myself no matter where I am. Last year in November was Scotland.

That was emotional! Quite a work of natural art. This October its Egypt. Sharm el Sheikh. So what sets it apart for me?

Have you ever read trip advisor? Leaving the holiday behind seems easy for many. They write on trip advisor in such a manner that you cannot fail to feel their pain of such a clearly awful trip.

The porcelain in their sink was cracked.

Lunchtime was self service in a certain restaurant.

Beer was served in half pint not pint measures.

The sun is too hot.

The sand isn’t small enough grains.

Ok.

The list is endless.

For every individual it is relative. For some, a self service restaurant may make or break the holiday. Requesting to move hotels would demonstrate how this is keeping them from connecting, getting in the vortex. What should a holiday be about? What is PARADISE?

I am thinking right now that our entire lives should be paradise. We should be connected all of the time, in the vortex. However, not only listening to Abraham Hicks but also observing while in paradise has shown me that if we spend all of our time without contrast, then the whole life experience becomes on one level. For me, the contrast will come tomorrow, when I leave paradise to come home. Leaving here the last time gave me a pain in my heart which took some getting over. This time I will try to be safe in the knowledge that I can return, making this a part of my life which I can experience at free will. Using the law of attraction I will manifest more trips which fill me up with so much happiness and connectivity.

Staying here all the time, would I lose the desire to punch the air and shout “YESSS” when I see the heron come for breakfast? Would I take it all for granted?

Most likely.

So what has made me feel that this is paradise?

The surroundings?

The weather?

The bouganvillia?

The food?

Well in reality they all helped. Although if I were to pick one thing to place at the top of the heat.......

It’s a feeling.

It’s the feeling the people give you here. The locals, the holiday makers, the staff. If I could have one wish for the world, it would be that we all treat each other lovingly, with respect. Wishing for the world to be at peace.

In a bubble of happiness, my husband and I arrived here feeling like celebrities. Somebody. We were somebody.

Somebody who was appreciated. They all smiled with big hugs and kisses and lots of “Welcome back”. If I could bottle that feeling of appreciation and being ‘somebody’..............sigh........what a wonderful world this would be.

The Best Mint Tea

2011-07-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

Freshly grown mint has so many excellent properties to it if consumed!
It is easy on the stomach and relaxes the intestine. Great for trapped wind!

I could sit and list lots of excellent reasons to use mint. But trust me - it's good for you!

So how do you consume it? From a fresh herb, pick off a few of the top leaves and infuse in water to make tea. This is far superior to dried tea bags (although they are still great).

Anyway, after a trip to the wonderful Leon restaurant (Which I cannot recommend highly enough for customer service and amazing healthy food - even gluten free goodies) I was thrilled to find they serve what they call a mint "steeper" which is loads of full of flavour leaves in a cup.

After growing mint in my herb garden at home, I have decided to regularly make tea and I have an excellent tip for you:
Pick the mint tips fresh, place them in a mini cafetiere and top up with water. After infusing for a few minutes, plunge and pour. Then you aren't picking bits of leaf from your teeth and it's so delicious!

Try it!

Lightbulb moments!

2011-07-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

AHA!

That's it!

I know!

Why didn't I think of that earlier?

IT's a SIGN!

Sounds familiar doesn't it?!

Occasionally, you will wake up in the middle of the night, sit BOLT upright and remember something you had been trying to think of all day long!

You walk into a room, forget what you went in there for and to quote Lee Evans (genius) you say out loud "What did I come in here for?"
"Why are you asking you? You DON"T KNOW!!" Say's Lee. Quite right.
then as you turn to walk away, you remember, just as you have stopped thinking about it.

Well, in the world of the Law of Attraction, this is easy to explain, yet would take me a while to explain in a blog.

Suffice to say, it's good to know that sometimes you just need to 'go with the flow'.

Did it come from nowhere?
Did it seem like an idea you had thought about before?
Does it seem like the RIGHT thing to do?
Does your gut say "Go for it"?
Maybe you wonder why you didn't think of it sooner.

The big question:
Does it feel easy?

If it does, it is most likely the right thing to do.

So, when that lightbulb goes off, gets you very excited and you feel very positive.....I ask.....Why not?

GO For it!!!

What's stopping you?

Some power, stronger than us, has lead you there. Do it! Enjoy it.

Loads of love

Louise x

Paradise on earth

2011-06-19T23:16:00.000-07:00

Picture this:

I'm cruising swiftly through deep blue waters. The heat is delightful at 43 degrees with the cool wind blowing.
There is a crew onboard this beautiful boat that treat all visitors simply like royalty. They cannot do enough.

After sailing for a couple of hours, dangling my legs over the side and posing bravely for photos Kate Winslett style (Titanic) there seemed to be another neighbouring boat getting excited. I more like felt the energy than saw it. One man was pointing at something with such conviction that I felt sure he was doing a catalogue pose! Suddenly, I knew assuredly what the excitement was all about.

DOLPHINS!
"Oh my goodness!" I screamed out loudly, "There are dolphins!"

The two boats began honking horns, the crew calling out loudly "Dolphins" And blowing whistles and stomping their feet. The dolphins loved this.....they playfully jumped through the water, circling the boats.
My children squealed in delight at what we could see before our eyes.

After they had played with our senses for a while they were gone.....
Recovering, We sailed some more.

The expert diving crew anchored the boat in the middle of the Red Sea in what I can only call Paradise. I'll use a capital P as it feels rude not to.
Hardly able to describe the feelings I felt, I will tell you a short story instead:
I was looking out at the Red Sea, watching the deep blue water change shades into a gorgeous pale blue turquoise as the water got more shallow leading up to an island in the middle of the sea. Covered by white sand, it simply looked like paradise. I would have loved to have taken a couple of models there for a photo shoot! Wow.
Most of my fellow travellers had left the boat to go snorkelling. Luckily they also swam to the island and walked up onto the sand to experience that paradise under their feet.

Beginning to feel quite overwhelmed by the sight before me, I took a moment looking out from the back of the boat and tried hard to control my feeling. It was like I was being grounded, rooted my feet into the world, the earth, this amazing country. Whatever was going on with me on a spiritual level that day, it moved me.
Leaning on one of the pillars at the back of the boat I couldn't help my eyes as they filled up with tears.
Thinking noone was watching, I was softly asked by the tour guide, "I am so sorry to disturb your thoughts, but can I please ask what the English mean when they say I am pondering?"

Obviously this was a very clever way of asking me if I was ok, without actually being as blunt as that. I felt his warmth was kind.
Deciding that he probably knew exactly what pondering was, I gave a brief explanation hoping that I could speak without the emotions I felt getting worse.

I failed.

I cried.

Happy tears? Well, yes, I believe so. I'm pretty sure what I felt was "Joy" which is the thing we should all be feeling all of the time, every day of our lives. That is the highest emotion. Everything is going to be ok, because we feel Joy.
Part of me felt a little sad. What were we doing to our world? The biggest house, the fastest car, the fattest wallet, the fattest waistband (!), the lack of time for others, dashing around all day every day, stressed, just to pay the bills. This is still never good enough for us as we always want more.
Yet, right there, at that moment in time......none of this mattered.

I was having "a moment" with the universe. It was spectacular!

The tour guy and me went on to have a very very deep conversation, speaking about lifestyles and the differences between muslim countries and Europe. How the ladies are so happy to be treated like princesses, they just look after the family. I say JUST like it's nothing much. Yet it's a hard job. Rewarding, but tough. When you work full time and expect a show home and perfect meal cooked every night before helping the children with their homework, and walk the dog, and goto the gym for the perfect body........
On the surface of things, looking materialistically, we might be forgiven for thinking these guys have less than us. Although do they? They make time for each other, respect the world and respect each other.

Tell me, who has got it right? Studying the Law of Attraction over the past couple of years, I can clearly see from that moment and that conversation that in Egypt, the locals naturally live life by the Law of Attraction. They are at peace every day while smiling thankfully. This is something I am 'practising' to get good at!

Bringing about these thoughts gave me even more access to the beauty of mother nature that day. I then jumped in and snorkelled myself, I FOUND NEMO! Amazing sight.
That evening I watched a lunar eclipse in a perfectly clear sky.

I felt the universe was telling me not to walk around with my eyes closed. There is so much to see. So much Joy to be felt. Allowing myself to feel it was a true honour.

Going Blonde - just like magic???

2011-03-24T07:37:00.000-07:00

"I'd like to go blonde please" is a request I hear many times from clients. They think I can wave a magic wand and when I explain it's simply not easy to do (near on impossible) they seem to think my skills aren't "up to it"

I am so {SO} pleased to see that Katie Price addressed this issue beautifully on her latest show Katie on Sky Living. Watching late last night on catch up -as we call it- (sky plus) I could have squealed with delight (but there was a snoozy husband beside me) as I could see that the story unfolding in front of me was one which would do the hairdressing industry endless favours.

A massive icon such as Katie Price is well known for her utter devotion to image (I know it is her job but nevertheless) and she was definitely a woman with a bee in her bonnet wanting to change her hair colour from black to blonde.

Stylists would tell clients, this cannot be done in one go. For me, I have recommended to clients that they start with a few highlights and they will look kind of orange and build up and up until after a few months (if they visit the salon every 6 weeks) they will start to see some blonde resemblance. This is not an exaggeration or a lack of skill. It's Science!!!

Bleach lifts colour out of hair.
Tint adds colour to hair.
Black is tint.
So everytime you top up your roots with black and think "I'll just pass that through the ends for a nice bit of shine" you are adding another layer into the core of the hair. Consequently, the bleach will need to remove those layers of colour that months and months of tinting have added.

Katie showed her hair at various stages and you could clearly see a rainbow type effect from root to end of the hair as the several applications of bleach were beginning to strip the colour out.
Needless to say she was using TOP salon experts for this and they were obviously and expectantly struggling. It's an impossible task-really-not one that can be achieved in normal circumstances within the couple of weeks that Katie managed to achieve it.
I think I recall that it took 19 hours of bleaching and while Katie was training for the marathon she confessed that her natural hair was a combination of cotton wool and chewing gum now. This is what happens when you loose the condition of the hair and by using back combing and heat treatment on the hair for her photo shoots she will do well to get her experts to use the best conditioning treatments on the hair. Breakage will happen and there will end up more extensions than anything.
After trips to LA to have more colour correction and extensions added for more blonde colour (plus lots of hat wearing while avoiding the paps) you could clearly see that Katie was 100% committed to the cause of changing hair colour.

It also cost her over $11,000

Why?

Because the products used are expensive, and the skill and expertise of the stylists comes at a price. Often people complain that it's expensive to get your hair done. Have you tried doing it yourself? :o) I have seen the result of people who try it at home.
We goto college for years and continue to learn constantly and this truly is a skill that takes much practise.

Your hair is the outfit you never take off.
Invest in it, look after it and just think before you decide to dye it from blonde to dark! Going back is not quite so easy.......Katie spent lots of money, loads of time (had to laugh at Gary saying he was exhausted after spending hours in the salon watching her - tho his hair was a fantastic cut! WHO did that?) and she was very very patient indeed. I must say, in this latest photo, her look works fabulously!
I LOVE IT

So, Katie; it was all worth it and thank you for educating people that these things are not achieved easily, no matter how much money, where you fly, the best experts you can give to this delicate operation! But I love this colour!

Weight Loss emotions

2011-03-14T23:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, so most of us have gained a few pounds here and there over the years.

A pound on, a pound off, not really noticing much.

Funny how it can add up to 7lbs, a dress size and before you know it you are joining Weight Watchers!

That happened to me. I was stunned to realise that I had spent lots of my life yo-yoing and going from quite skinny to really overweight. Enough was enough. A neighbour talked me into joining Weight Watchers and I was up for it. I needed that level of support where somebody inspirational would help me acheive a figure just like my idol Jennifer Aniston

She is gorgeous, no denying that!

Ok so there is no way folks I'm going to post my FAT picture after this one, maybe on another post!

Anyhow, sadly the neighbour didn't join me at the meeting. My mum did though.

Dissapointingly, we both found the weight watchers leader far from inspiring and we left after a few weeks. Although the plan seemed easy to do we needed someone else.

My mum found another leader who was ok and kept going, having quite a reasonable weight loss. I gave up. And gained more weight!

Wedding fast approaching, no diets working, I decided to hit the gym EVERY DAY! Thanks Roko

Much as I loved it, I didn't loose any weight.........so I got married a very curvy (but fit!) girly.

Hubby loved me anyway and I was happy. I just craved a different look. Was that Jennifer dream gone forever?

After being spolit in Venice on honeymoon (tiramasu-YUM) and then also giving my taste buds even more to smile about in Florida for the family holiday my weight was at an all time high. I joined Weight Watchers again with high hopes.

Desperately unhappy with how every item of clothing looked, I clung onto the leaders every word. She was Amazing with a capital A. Her name was Lee and she was the inspiration I had been waiting for. The weight came off slowly at first and although I hadn't realised at the time, I actually had a pretty serious illness (that's another post entirely) and once that was diagnosed I went off armed with information and decided to research.

Able now to eat according to my illness, I adapted the Weight Watchers plan and I was home and running!

3 weeks after my 40th birthday I got to my goal weight and boy did that feel good. I cannot describe the feelings of pride and joy I felt. Right up there with the good events in life!

Everybody seemed pleased for me and even school mums who I didn't know would stop me in the street and tell me how good I looked and asked how had I done it. Can you imagine that? What a BUZZ!!!

The new Propoints plans from Weight Watchers became a new area for interest for me now as I am such a huge (Now not so huge!) ambassador for "You are what you eat" and for me, healthy eating is the key to life. If you put rubbish in, you won't perform to your best. So this new plan made me sit up and listen. It was much more encouraging of healthy eating and I finally did agree to go on and train to be a Weight Watchers leader.

Well, I was asked to be a leader when I lost the weight and wasn't sure. Seemed like a lot of hard work to me. Yet this overwhelming desire to help other people like me who have been struggling makes me want to shout "Come on Down! The time is right! I'm here to help"

Starting training was a massive step and it has been very intense indeed. After qualifying, I have been to the handover of a lovely group of ladies and spent time contacting those who have missed a few weeks - "Come on down! The time is right!"

Tonight, my first group kicks off at 7pm in the Lordswood Leisure Center, Chatham.

I will motivate and inspire these ladies and look for a nice weight loss next week! Imagine the feeling you will get from seeing that happen for these ladies.

Watch this space for another post on how I get on!

Oh, and here is my "after" photo...

Ok so me and Jennifer look nothing alike

But as you can see, I'm happy with that!!

Fish Pedicure at ExCeL

2011-02-28T07:12:00.000-08:00

Not sure of what I might find at the Professional Beauty show at ExCeL yesterday, I drove excited and happy!

The sunshine over the M25 on a Sunday makes driving seem so much more attractive than dizzly November Friday evening.....My ears soaked up an old found CD of 100 best R N B. I LOVE that when you find old music that you used to listen to all the time and then discover it again. THAT brilliant CD

Isn't the mind amazing how it remembers the song words! Magic.

Anyhow, after lots of traffic in London I arrived at ExCeL for the show. I never knew *so* many companies offered such differing advice regarding anti ageing skincare routines. Personally, this is my favourite here; Arbonne. You need to use an online consultant number: 441024856 should help...

Anyhow, after spending lots of lovely time in the exciting nail area and stocking up on minx nails I came to the pedicure section!
Fish.....

YES Fish!!

Have you heard? The latest craze, you sit on a special chair and pop your feet into a kind of square fish bowl and let the little fishes eat all the dead skin off your feet! This leaves you feeling baby soft :o)

Look!

I cheekily took a small video to show you the fish swimming around!!

I could quite fancy having a go at this!! What about you?

TGI Fridays customer Service

2011-01-25T05:03:00.000-08:00

Leaving School - a massive EVENT!! The junior schools really go to town now and watching the year 6 children coming out of school was a very emotional day to witness.

Sobbing, in floods of tears, the girls hugged each other. Boys in an almost football crowd kind of depth to their voices calling out “yeeeaaaarrrrhhhhhh” as they left the doors to close behind them.

Stretch limos in abundance, there are proud mothers and fathers galore taking photographs and capturing the new uniform of signed shirts in different colours.

Off to a new life, full of new challenges, experiences and valuable lessons, they head to TGI Fridays.

Ok, we know TGI restaurants are always a popular choice: I wonder sometimes if my children love it there because of the buzzer that goes off when your table is ready!

Why is it so popular?

It’s a very strong brand.

At the top of this page is a red and white photograph. That was the tablecloth. Most people will recognise this as part of the TGI brand.

The staff dressed in school uniform on this special day. A minor detail but one that showed they like to go the extra mile and join in the celebrations.

Menu choice is huge, including the many exciting cocktails. Oreo cocktail?? Have you tried that? Well you haven’t lived! Try it!

Gorgeous.

Catering for many different needs is one magnetic pull that we the public now demand in every retailer. Yet I sat at the table watching and wondering what it is that takes them head and shoulders above others. My opinion?

The Staff.

They are fun, they interact with diners, especially children in an almost Red Coat kind of way...one of the waiting staff was almost Disney like in the way she was speaking to one little girl of about 4. The girl was in total awe of the waitress.

When they ask, “is everything ok? is there anything else we can get you?” - you wouldn’t mind saying if there was something they could tweak to make you a tiny bit happier. This is an art form that I suspect the HR department of TGI’s have got perfect.

As a critique, we could all find a fault in everything. Yet to be able to say out loud what that is and ask for it to be changed is really often quite a daunting thought.

Next time you are somewhere receiving a service, make sure you feel comfortable. Nothing should be too much trouble. You have a right to expect a high standard. However, twin that with gratitude. Be very thankful for the service provided. Let them know what you have loved about the service. Watch the body language. You may have just made someone’s day: you have made them feel successful in their job, made them feel appreciated.

In return, you should feel appreciated and taken care of. Everybody is happier, the world is a brighter Place!!!

place!

Communicating with your hair stylist

2011-01-25T04:55:00.000-08:00

Communicating
with your hair stylist:

Communicating

with your hair stylist

On occasions, some clients find it tricky to get their hairdresser to understand their request. Every salon operates differently, as does every stylist. These following tips may help:

1. Your appointment should include time required for a thorough consultation. If you feel you may need extra time, due to being undecided on what to do with your hair, mention this when booking. The stylist may extend your appointment time.

2. Request your required style in detail. Describe the desired result using your hands to “draw” the shape you would like your hair to be.

3. Your idea of one inch and the stylists idea of one inch may be two different things. Use your index finger and thumb to give a guide of how much you would like cut off.

4. Photographs are an excellent way of showing your stylist what you mean. Magazines, pop stars, even an old photograph of yourself showing how you like a style are great! Be prepared for your stylist to advise that something may need tweaking to suit you better.

5. Make sure you are absolutely clear of the stylist’s intentions. If you are not sure, ask them questions beginning with what, why, how, when and who. This will enable them to answer you more fully and you will not get just yes/no answers. If you don’t like the sound of the style, ask more questions until you are happy.

6. Ask the opinion of a professional stylist: “How do I create this style at home?” If it sounds unachievable, then this is not the style for you. Some styles will be created using hair products (wax, mousse, hairspray and various other wonderfully-named products)

However, if you don’t like using products, the style will look totally different. If you do, then make sure you purchase professional products, as you are paying for your style at the salon, before you leave. Your hair will love you for it!

7. Wash it and leave it? If this is what you want, it is of utmost importance to tell your stylist first. Talented stylists are out there in abundance, but you will need to inform them if you have no intention of taking a hairdryer or set of irons near your hair. This way, they can create a shape that you should be able to manage well at home.

8. Colours are a fantastic way of enhancing the look of your crowning glory. The stylists and technicians will work together to create the best look for you. Consider your make up, favourite clothing colours, skin tone and current hair colour. The technician will take all of these factors into consideration prior to choosing a colour. Without doing this, they will not be carrying out a professional service on your locks so allow a little flexibility.

9. Check what price you will be paying when you book. Ask what this includes. Obviously you may be recommended a conditioning treatment which will be an added cost. Your stylist will be happy to tell you the cost if you ask. Take home professional products are a worth while investment and I recommend this for EVERY client.

10. Stylists are very highly qualified and this will take a number of years to train. Consider all the information they have to advise you on getting the best from your hair. Make the most of every appointment by asking questions if you have them and ask advice on maintenance at home and in the salon.

Finally, if you are not happy with a service, give the stylist or the salon the chance to put it right. They want every customer to leave 100% satisfied, return for the next appointment and recommend to all of their friends.

Submitted by Louise Usher of Strand Designs. A free advisory service is available from Strand Designs. Contact via:

email:Louise@stranddesigns.co.uk

Twitter: @stranddesigns

Facebook: Stranddesigns Hair

Summertime tips

2011-01-25T04:48:00.000-08:00

This is one of my articles from last summer: I thought I would share it to get us in the mood for Spring!!! :o)

Summertime is nearly here! Take good care of yourself and make sure

you look amazing with these top beauty tips during the summer months:

* After a day at the beach, shampoo hair twice, rinse and apply conditioning treatment. Leave

treatment on for at least ten minutes before throughly rinsing.

* Once a week, exfoliate the skin to remove dead skin cells

* Every morning and night you MUST cleanse, tone and moisturise. Skin cells need nourishment

more than ever due to sun damage

* Wear a light foundation with an SPF of at least 15 to minimise long term skin damage. Apply

this over lips too prior to adding lipstick, this will give extra protection to this delicate area

* Before your waxing appointment, thoroughly exfoliate. This will help to minimise ingrowing

hairs

* Get your toenails coated with gel. This should last 3 weeks, won't chip and will look amazing

with your sandals

* Use Aqua cream on dry areas of the body such as elbows and soles of the feet

* Check the mirror frequently on hot days to check for creasing make up or untidy lines of

eyeliner

* Before your summer holiday, a spray tan will stop that "just o the plane" look. However, this

does not provide any protection from the sun

* Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise and drink plenty of water. If you are dehydrated you will

not look or feel your best.

* Wear pretty dresses. Floral prints are very popular this summer and they are gorgeous! Treat

yourself

Submitted by Strand Designs A free advisory service is available from Strand Designs. Contact via email :

Louise@stranddesigns.co.uk twitter: @stranddesigns or

facebook: Stranddesigns hair Strand

Designs

We are a branded freelance

company that provides mobile

services to your home or office.

The skills offered are all aspects of

hairdressing, beauty therapy and

holistic treatments.

NOW OPEN

NEW EXCITING LOG CABIN

SALON

Call Louise Now: 07815776037

151 Hempstead Road

Hempstead, Kent, ME7 3QG

STRAND DESIGNS.

The founder of this company, Louise Usher has been

working in the industry for the past 9 years. Prior to this

she had a successful management career working for

hospitality catering events all around the country (such as

the Grand National). This new concept combines both

careers and also a new brand to ll a huge gap in the

market - which is that some people would prefer their hair

done at home or even in their oce at lunchtime! A brand

new service which promises highly qualied and

professional sta who will listen to client needs and

advise with the expertise you would expect from a high

calibre company.

Louise has won rst class awards for her hairdressing and

even southern championship for gents hair. She is

passionate about this craft and strives to keep all sta up

to date with the latest fashions and styles and even the

latest products and gadgets. Hair, beauty and nails all

can be catered for by Strand Designs at a convenient time

to the client. Evening and weekend appointments are

available too.

Mon-Fri 9.30am-6pm Sat 9-7pm Sunday available for

session styling and weddings

Gillingham Nails

2011-01-25T04:36:00.000-08:00

Being a hair and beauty professional, I can't help but notice people who have really gone the extra mile to take care of themselves and the image they portray.

Often I will comment "Ohh, I love your nails." To which they reply, "Gillingham Nails, Canterbury Street"

Well, during beauty school we were warned and warned again about the dangers of certain establishments using a drilling technique on your nails. That said, I have to admit that the said nails always always impressed me.

Sometimes, my job involves thinking outside of the box. I liked the image of the clients nails. Couldn't argue that, no matter how hard I try. So, I decided to walk in there and see what I could find to blog about!

I was greeted by a cat, that's right, a cat. Fast asleep on a hard wooden chair. Though perfectly comfortable. There was a kind of flanelette sheet hanging on the wall behind the cat which was clearly it's scratching mat. I actually thought this was kind of cute and in some way, having to always give off such a professional image in business is sometimes equal to loosing the "hippy" touch that I like. Yesterday I met a lady (nothing to do with being a nail technician) but she was a highly respected individual in her job who liked to work in bare feet! Love that!

Anyhow, an oriental looking lady called out to me with an accent asking if she could help me. What was the correct answer?

"I'm here for some nails please" seemed the wrong thing to say. Would you walk into the butchers and ask "Do you have some meat please?"

So I asked, "Can you do my nails for me today please?" Which was so much more classy of course!

There was a no nonsense approach which was not offering any tea or coffee or choice of service.....I sat down and had my nails done, end of story. The "drilling" wasn't really drilling at all in my own opinion.

It felt a little worrying yes and I must confess to sitting frightfully still! However, it seemed to me to be a fairly kind tool to use and didn't minimise the depth of my own fingernail as I feared it might. It made an efficient job of an otherwise lengthy treatment.

As I was being taken care of I looked around taking in the scenery. The shop was a very basic one. Pink walls were well loved and although there was a minimal look to it, it basically really served it's purpose.

The technicians are I feel highly skilled in their craft and while I went for a plain look, I have seen examples of airbrushing that is quite an art form.

So what was it about Gillingham nails that makes it so popular? I looked hard, took it all in and my conclusion is this:

It's open

You can just walk in

It's a fair price for a fair job

It's easy as they don't talk to you

Your nails look great

They are quick

So sometimes, all the fussy offerings of frothy coffee (whoops Strand Designs) may be surplus to requirements when occasionally all people want is the no nonsense service. For me, Louise, I would miss the chats from my clients and fussing over them to make them feel cared about.

I think both Gillingham Nails and Strand Designs have got it right, we just cater for different needs.

As these lovely pink and white Stacey Slater acrylics start to grow out I shall be taking care of them myself with a gel overlay in various colours depending on which mood I am in. The gels are kinder afterall and look very natural......better still ladies have a manicure........better still add on a pedicure and feel totally pampered!

Nails.......almost as popular as hair these days!

Todays acrylic pink and whites

I felt inspired by Moss stitch

2010-11-15T03:23:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,
This is my first post........I decided to blog after my internet friend Moss stitch shared one of her blogs with me via twitter. It was truly awesome and reading her brilliantly written words and looking at the artistic photographs on her blog I felt I had to do some of that too!!

I am sure I have a lot to learn and please advise me you experienced bloggers. I have been writing some blogs on this other website of mine StrandDesigns blog ahhh see already I'm not sure that link works. Apologies if I post and it hasn't worked!

Things I would like to talk about:
Books I'm reading
Celebrity styling and new hairstyles
Beauty Tips
Diet
Law of Attraction
Customer Service
IVF
Family
Digestive issues
Crohns, Ulcerative Colitis
Coeliac/Celiac disease - Gluten free living
Specific Carbohydrate Diet
And general news of what I'm doing and experiencing

Deciding to couple together the odd bit of info about my business with also letting the outside world into my personal life with my general ramblings......I intend to fill up the coming year with exciting tales to tell and things that are going on. We have just arrived home from a marvellous trip in Scotland (the highlands near Aviemore) and so I intend to make this my first original blog!

Meanwhile a bit about me:
Some of the subjects I have listed above will give you some insight into my passions in life and areas of interest to me. Also, I love watching TV about peoples lives, you know the kind of thing - Katie and Peter etc....you sort of feel like you are getting to know them and I totally admire how they bravely show so much personal detail of their lives while opening up to so much critisism from the public. Well I decided that if they can do it - so can I :o) smaller scale of course!!

Small things in life please me and forgive me getting excited at times but that's just me! I'm thankful for all the good things in life.

So, off to write about Scotland..........until then......