Reciprocity

Posted on by MummyWhisperer

I can’t pronounce the word, but I’m passionate about creating reciprocal relationships.  Together we are so much stronger.

Watch my video below and let me know what you think – do you have businesses who support yours, or do you find that many will take the help that you give and then give nothing back in return?

 

 

There are some easy tips as well:

  • Like their page.
  • Set notifications to first so that you don’t miss anything.
  • When they do a Facebook live, click the button to be notified when they go live, so you don’t miss anything.
  • When relevant share to your clients or friends – it can be really helpful for their stats and for your clients, and is more interesting than constant promotional posts.
  • Don’t discount, add value and combine services with another business

For any small business looking for social media support and advice, with an intuitive edge, then check out Inga Deksne on Facebook.  I’m part of one of her subscription groups, and it’s really helpful to keep me up to date and kick me into action!

Oh and remember to come and join my Facebook group ‘Business with a heart’!

Mid-Year Review And Plans for rest of 2017

Posted on by MummyWhisperer

A confess – I’ve been beating myself up loads for not quite achieving what I had wanted to achieve by now.  Are you in the same place?

Then please watch my video and do the exercise I mention below ….

 

 

  1. Sit down for 20-30mins and think about this year.
  2. Look through your diaries/schedules to remind yourself what happened
  3. What have you achieved in work, health and life?
  4. Make a good long list.  Don’t focus on what you didn’t achieve, focus on what you did manage.
  5. The more you write, the more it will flow
  6. Then take a couple of deep breaths, now that you are feeling more grateful to yourself and ask yourself….
  7. If there was only 1 more thing that you could achieve by the end of the year, what would your heart love you to do?
  8. If you could manage 2 more things what would they be?

 

Let me know below what you discover – it could be really surprising!

5 Top Tips For A Foggy Brain

Posted on by MummyWhisperer

I’ve just started a theme called #CelebrationFriday in my Facebook group ‘Create your dream life With The Mummywhisperer‘ – a way of focussing on what we can be grateful for, rather than how exhausted we feel!

Today I’m celebrating making a huge breakthrough!  Check out my video where I explain what for me is a massive improvement in my cognitive abilities.

The damage the Lyme Disease did to my brain was way worse than ‘Mummy Brain’ or ‘Fibro Fog’ had ever been – and it was a huge dent to my pride to literally not be able to do things I used to be able to do (Accounting, Project management, remembering more than 1/2 a page of to do’s etc).  So I’m really chuffed to have been able to turn back the tide.

My 5 tips are:

1) Supplements (I take Omega oils)

2) Far Infrared – check out my review 1 and review 2 on how our brain needs oxygen &a circulation

3) Positive thinking and EFT (Emotional Freedom technique) – to get out of my own way and not make matters worse (If you are interested Melanie Bundock is my go to person for EFT)

4) Tap dancing – I’m pretty awful!  But the timing and sound of the tapping is definitely helpful and I’m very grateful to Excel Performing Arts for starting up their Adult classes (and being patient!).

5) Playing the Piano – I’d forgotten EVERYTHING – but slowly and surely I’m getting better and remembering more than just chopsticks!

I hope this gives you a feeling of light at the end of the tunnel if you are struggling with similar problems!

(If you need some help with issues like this, I do a small number of Lifestyle coaching and healing sessions each week, and I’d be happy to help).

Review of Extreme Self-Care By Cheryl Richardson

Posted on by MummyWhisperer

I know how tough it is to decide wether to read a book or not sometimes, so I thought I would review this lovely book for you by Cheryl Richardson.  You may get enough from these points, but if you like it, you might want to consider getting the book and working through each chapter over the next 12 months.

Here is my Facebook live video where I talk about why I decided to read this book and I cover each point in more depth:

Part 1

Part 2

  1. Where are you depriving yourself or over giving?
  2. Tell yourself you love yourself in the mirror 3x per day
  3. Be willing to disappoint people and be honest about what you do or don’t want to do
  4. Add rhythm and routine to your life, so it can flow more.
  5. Where can you let control and ask for help – she recommends a ‘things you can do to support me’ list.
  6. What is an absolute ‘yes’ and ‘no’ – reduce your To do’s by 30%
  7. Are you living or working in a soul nourishing environment
  8. Protect your sensitivity – reduce the noise & news if it affects you
  9. Take stock of your health and any actions that need taking
  10. Stand up for yourself
  11. What passion are you ignoring
  12. What is your first aid pack for when things go wrong?

If you have a question about this, feel free to pop a comment in my Facebook group ‘‘Create your dream life with the Mummy whisperer‘ and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.  If you’d like a bit more help with brainstorming the changes you need and challenging your assumptions, then feel free to pop me a message to book a 1to1.

Qualifying for ‘Business with a heart’ Review

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I would love to support other businesses ‘with a heart’ by highlighting you on this blog, but there are a couple of criteria (please don’t take this as judgment!).

Success

Now don’t worry if you aren’t there yet, so many business owners are doing well, but still have some barriers to break through – come and join me in my ‘Business With A Heart‘ Facebook group and maybe we can support you to finish off the ones still to be done (I’m still working on them too)!

  • Are you paid more than your employees and fairly considering the hours you work?
  • Do you get some time off from your business and take holidays?
  • Are you working reasonable hours, so that there is also a balance of rest, relaxation, social life, fitness, family life and relationships etc?
  • Can you afford to take care of your health?
  • Are you creating a pension and future security?
  • Does your company have a good reputation?
  • Does it mean you are financially independent – so you can pay for all your bills?
  • Can you provide for you portion of your family’s needs?

Criteria

  • Are your full time employees paid as such e.g. NI and holidays?
  • Is your business based upon your own unique idea or USP?
  • Are you trying your best (it’s difficult I know) to consider your environmental impact?
  • Do you believe there is enough space for all businesses, so you don’t need to target other businesses, or take clients from them?
  • Have you managed to keep your heart and joy in the business, without succumbing to cyniscm (realism is fine!).
  • Do you pay your taxes?

Now of course, there is some of my own bias in here, and I might adapt these criteria as I go along.  I’m basically thinking that success at the price of your health, your heart, your employees, other businesses, or orang-utans, is not success in my way of thinking.  Big global corporations that don’t pay their taxes, wouldn’t pass my criteria (although I would never suggest paying more than you need to of course).

Business with a heart – is it viable?

Posted on by MummyWhisperer

Business with a heart – is it really viable, or is it some daft spiritual nonsense?  That’s going to be my journey and investigation over the coming months.  It’s going to be ‘interesting’ and hopefully it will be inspirational and give us all hope!

Here is my first Facebook live video, talking through why I’m so passionate about it:

I’m not ignoring the fact that a business does need to:

  • Make profit – it’s not a dirty word, it’s what gives it stability and means there can be reinvestment
  • Market itself – i.e. let the world know it is there
  • Sell to clients – i.e. learn what the clients need and how the business can help them
  • Watch cash flow – numbers are important, as cash is what makes a business succeed or fail.
  • Make decision based on business needs – I remember being told that as owners we ‘work for the business’ and never to forget that we owe the business the right decisions.

‘Success’ is a funny old thing and can be measured in many ways.  But I like to think of us proving that a Business with a heart can still provide:

  • A fair income (so many business owners earn less than their employees)
  • a pension
  • ‘Healthy wealth’ – where you earn enough to be able to look after your health, house and family
  • Provide for your family – there is that saying about when you visit a small business you are paying for a little girl to learn to play the piano – and it is so true (but dance in my case, and both children!).

But I’m hopeful I can prove that long term profit and a more secure future can be made without:

  • Being cut throat or vicious
  • Lying, stealing or manipulating
  • Trying to damage someone else business or target them
  • Treating staff badly
  • Losing your morals or ethics
  • Losing your soul and becoming cynical and bad tempered

 

Do you have a story about your business that I can post?  I would love to – to support you and also to give hope to other struggling businesses.  Get in touch via my Facebook page.

 

 

Rest vs Relaxation

Posted on by MummyWhisperer

Here is my first post for my new blog posts aimed at helping your to heal your lives with lots of simple tips and ideas!  Yay, I’m so glad to have got this up and running at last, as I’m brimming over with ideas.

This video talks through the difference I experienced recently between rest and relaxation – so simple and yet so powerful.

Watch the full video (it’s only 8mins) for more detail and information about what is coming up here and on my Facebook groups:

Relaxation: Stress relief, fun, enjoyment, getting yourself out of every day life for a while.

Rest: giving your body a chance to heal, recover, recuperate and regain the energy lost.

Remember, if you don’t want to miss my tips, then you need to do the following:
– Like my Facebook page and set notifications to ‘first’
– When you watch a live video, click the arrow and select to be notified when I go live
– Join my Facebook community ‘Create your dream life‘ for more support

Friendship: Reflections on 2016 and hope for 2017

Posted on by MummyWhisperer

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks reflecting on 2016 and what to plan for 2017.  Did you know that this year is the end of a 9 year cycle and beginning of a new cycle.  The next few days are a good time to reflect on what you don’t want to repeat, and what was amazing and needs to continue into 2017.

Frankly 2016 was relatively shit.  It started ok, but there were huge shocks, stresses, betrayals, let downs and upsets; way beyond anything I could have imagined.  When that ‘last straw’ happened and I behaved very out of character, I was faced with judgment and rejection.

Definitely year of learning HUGE lessons about people and listening to my intuition more.

As someone said to me:

“It’s not your fault if you see the potential in people and they don’t live up to it.”

But to balance it friendship became a big theme for me; I am an extremely lucky woman!

Old school friends have visited, and good mates from over the years have turned up, always at exactly the right time.  A friend returned and now regularly brings bubbles and light heartedness.  New friends appeared, with fellow appreciation for cake 😉

There’s my friend across the pond, who I’ve never actually met, who has been there for me morning and night with little titbits of advice, healing and consistent support.  She even sends me beautiful cards, stunning hand made ear rings to cheer me up and this morning I received a a present of two things I really should have rewarded myself with, but had never thought of.

Then there is the friend who has basically ensured that I was able to get work done by helping with child care.  She even bought cupcakes for my kids, knowing full well there was no way I had the energy to make some for the school cake sale.  I know she is a huge believer in the fact that everything gets balanced out in life, but she must be storing up a huge bank load of help.

Or the lovely mum whose pragmatism and grounded nature meant I could turn up a sobbing mess early on a Saturday morning for a lot of tea and common sense.

So 2016 was the year of lessons, I only just survived, but where I came out with the best friendships ever.

Apparently 2017 is a ‘Number 1’ year – it’s a fresh start and time for change and moving forwards.  Good thing!

The kids are OK; Little Dimples is still determinedly trying to do things her way and is learning to not scream so much.  Curly Headed Boy is loving both dancing and in line hockey and enjoying the challenge of year 6 (he hates being bored).  The Hairy Northerner is currently juggling a couple of jobs and Wildbangarang – it seems jobs are like buses!

My Lyme disease is alright.  Not good – because I should be resting more.  But I’m better than surviving, and I feel I’m taking little chunks out of it on a daily basis.  I’ll do a proper update with my current ‘treatment’ in a few posts to see if there are any ideas that help.

How was your 2016?  What was good and what was bad?  What are your dreams for 2017?  Have a think between now and January 28th – it’s a good time for setting new intentions.

I’ve missed blogging, so I’m planning on doing lots more.  Do you have any preferences for what you’d like?  More light hearted ones?  Maybe some Facebook lives?  Or tips on what not to do in business (I’ve got oodles of them)?

Gravity Force St Albans Review – heaven or hell?

Posted on by MummyWhisperer

So as you know I don’t do many reviews, but when my kids heard I’d been asked to review gravity force in the summer, they kind of forced me to go!  Here is Curly Headed Boy’s reaction:

Gravity Force St Albans

So here are the things I was worried about and what I thought about it all ….

Is it dangerous?

Trampolines as we know cause havoc in home gardens and there was certainly some dodgy stuff on the internet about trampoline parks.  But I really liked this team.  There was no scrimping on first aid training and they took their roles seriously.  It seemed well designed, so that there less opportunities for problems as well.  Curly headed boy felt that some of the trampolines are actually a little under powered – maybe a very sensible precaution!

There are of course waivers you have to fill out – do it before you go and there is hardly any delay.  Make sure on your first visit that you do arrive 30mins before to do your waiver

Were they party-poopers?

Whilst worrying about safety is paramount, it is a trampoline park and Curly Headed Boy had been to a party at a rival location and hated it.  He felt they were hardly able to do anything and kept being pulled off.  Whilst getting into devilish moods at time, he’s a pretty well behaved boy, so he was really upset with the other location.  He loved Gravity force – the perfect combo of control and fun.

Did I have to get involved?

Gravity Force square trampolines

With my Lyme disease I was most worried that I’d be forced to bounce by Little Dimples, as she is often unhappy alone – this would not have been a good plan.  But after the first 5 mins I was free to watch, and on the next visits I didn’t have to do anything at all (oh yes, we have been again, and again, and again!).  This is a big deal as she normally gets nervous in chaotic situations.

Do you have to pay as a parent if you aren’t bouncing?

Nope – unlike other similar parks.

Whats the noise like?

I HATE Gambado’s – sorry Gambado’s, but the noise is like a living torture to me!  It was slightly ‘Argh’ in the coffee area when there were parties on, but the main area was fine.

Tip to help the kids enjoy it more:

Gravity Force Little Kids

Take the kids around the whole area before they go off jumping and explain what the different areas are for.  For example, there are 2 dodge ball courts (for different age groups), 4 long trampolines for doing tricks on, a trampoline with a basket ball hoop and a more professional trampoline.

Food & drink & socks & lockers

Gravity Force Food prices

You can’t take enough water.  I don’t think you are meant to take your own drinks or food, but honestly you are going to need to sneak water in your bag.  There is nothing you can do however, they will be hungry and thirsty at the end, expect to visit the cafe! The good news is that I think the prices were reasonable, they could have put them completely off the scale and they haven’t.

If you don’t have trampoline type socks from another park, then you’ll need them on the first visit (they are sticky on the bottom), but then can keep reusing them.

We didn’t worry about lockers, you won’t need one if you aren’t bouncing.

What if there is a party?

I’m not keen on going to kids play parks when there are other parties there.  But when you book online you can see which session are the busiest, so avoid those ones.

How long do you need to go for?

Personally I don’t think that you need more than an hour.  It’s actually a perfect thing to do for a short time in the day to let the kids let off steam.

Any improvements?

CHB would love them to do classes on acrobatics, but they can’t because of the insurance.

Toddlers, Disabilities & Grown Ups

There are morning sessions for toddlers, special sessions for those with disabilities and exercise classes for grown ups (The hairy northerner is actually rather keen to try one of the classes out, we just haven’t sorted it out yet).

Word of warning!

Don’t park in the private car park next door – I did by mistake and got a nasty message on my car – I can get a bit confuddled about parking sometimes, it was an honest mistake.

A Surprise Bonus

We ran into Anton from Xfactor – I have to say he is a real gent.  He didn’t stop smiling the whole time he was there, and happily made my kids day by taking a selfie with them!

Anton Stephans Gravity Force

Overall

My kids love it.  It’s a simple and quick thing to add into a weekend or holiday to help them let off steam without costing a fortune.  We’ve become regulars and will be back there this half-term.

 

Disclosure: I was invited to the pre-open day and given some tickets in return for a review.  We have however been again and paid for our own tickets, so that kind of proves it’s worth it.

Review No2 Far Infrared Cocoon From Get Fitt

Posted on by MummyWhisperer

 

So in April I reviewed the Far Infrared Professional Sol Cocoon and Earth Mat (chair mat) from Get Fitt.  I had amazing results, and thought I should update you how things are going since then.  Plus I’ve had over 50 people try the Cocoon and Chair mat, so I”ll let you know what I’ve found out from those trials.

Things I have learnt:

  1. The Cocoon is much stronger than the Chair mat; if you have a chronic illness you are going to need the Cocoon, if you want to get better.  But the Chair mat will help you keep going.
  2. Using the Cocoon 2-3 times a week at my Salon & Spa is not the same as using it twice a day; doh!
  3. I’m lucky to be able to use it twice a day; some people are so sick they can only use it once every couple of days at first.  I’m not sure why, but potentially as I had my supplementation, nutrition, exercise, meditation and pacing in place.
  4. Circulation is King in recovery from every illness; I really hadn’t understood how important it is, so I’ll write more about this with more tips.
  5. I’ve been focussing on being able to work and be with the kids, not healing; this is a big shift in thought process for me, that I’m still working on it.

Pro’s of the Earth/Chair mat:

FIR earth mat

I use this for about 30mins at night and 5 mins in the morning.

  1. It’s much prettier than the Cocoon
  2. It helps me stave off a flare, or hold it off until I can get in the Cocoon.
  3. It helps me to relax ready for sleep each night
  4. Both kids love it before bed during reading time (it’s on a rocking chair).
  5. It’s great for bad backs (no it doesn’t fix them forever, you need to keep using it and go to Pilates).
  6. It can give a boost of energy, just not as much as the cocoon – I don’t think it would last more than a couple of days in someone like myself.
  7. It’s easy to use because you can sit on it while you work
  8. The kids also like to lie on it watching films etc when they are tired.
  9. You can lie it on your stomach or knees for pain relief
  10. Everyone who has tried it has found it’s great to reduce the pain and grumpiness of PMT (like magic!)
  11. It means I can take it with me when I go away and still enjoy my holidays

So I’m really glad I bought one for myself personally and for my clients and I would really recommend it either as:

  1. A cheaper option that you supplement with a Cocoon at a salon/therapist
  2. Or for pain relief/PMT/energy boost if you are not chronically sick

Pro’s of the Cocoon

Willow FIR

  1. Massively reduces POTs symptoms and stops a flare up (heart palpitations, feeling as though my arms are tightly bandaged, pain across back & shoulders, fainting sensation on standing up).
  2. Almost meditative in nature; it seems to put everyone into a state of peace and calm that creates a really deep sense of rest.
  3. It helps me with the sense of overwhelm that being a mum of 2 young kids + a new business + Lyme disease brings on.  Honestly, there are times when I think it is the only thing that keeps me going.
  4. The Cocoon shape definitely has a psychosomatic reaction and relaxes people; it must be a bit womb like.
  5. Using it 2-3 times per week is keeping me going.  But I’m not making the degree of progress in improvement that I was making before.  There is some improvement, but not noticeable day by day as I was getting before, and life isn’t helping me maintain the improvements at the moment.
  6. It’s great before or after a massage of for people who are too stiff or don’t like the intimacy of a massage as a replacement.

Case Studies:

Cocoon sol

Here is a list of the types of problems that people have come to try the Cocoon for.  I would like to try a few of them in more depth.

Relaxation, stress relief, exhaustion: This is the prime use of the Cocoon at the salon and it always works for this.  If they go racing out into the world, the energy will last 1-2days.  But if they pace, it will last 4-5 days.

Children: All react really well to it and it seems to be very calming and relaxing.  For mine, I get a lot less tantrums kicking off and their health seemed stronger.  It’s good with the Chair mat (better than before), but not as strong.  I’d love to try more with hyperactive or sensitive children.

Recovery from hard core physical exertion: I was really excited to have a Polar Explorer tried it out on his return from the pole.  So I can be sure it helps and that it fits very, very, very tall people!  A mum tried it after doing a moon walk and it helped, but I should have popped her on it again for her to get no fall out from all that walking.

Preparation for exercise: a couple of OCR enthusiasts (Obstacle course racing) have found it really helpful.  I’d like to try out a few more to see if it helps with their results and preparation for races.  Now personally I think these people are C.R.A.Z.Y and doomed to hurt themselves, but heh ho, who am I to judge, and at least this will help protect and/or heal them 😉

Recovery from viruses: Loads of people tried if for recovery of bugs/illnesses that they couldn’t shake off and it either worked immediately or by the next morning.

Cancer: It definitely helps with the exhaustion, stress and pain relief.  I would consider it a supportive therapy, but I wouldn’t want to claim or promise anything else.

Chronic illnesses: (E.g. Fibromyalgia, M.E., CFS. Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Lyme Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis).  It’s not a replacement or short cut for lifestyle changes.  It’s great for the exhaustion that often goes hand in hand with them.  The detox can be brutal, so care needs to be taken to not over do it initially; it even detoxes emotions (see my post on the sudden burst of grief about my parents death).  For some people it helps with pain relief straight away and for others it takes time; it’s going to take a few more clients before I can set people’s expectations clearly.  I definitely to keep going with more long term case studies on this.

What I’m going to keep investigating:

Dog On FIR mat

As you can see dogs like Far Infrared too 😉

I’m really interested in how it helps with PMT/Menopause and Depression, so I’m going to do some 2 month case studies in the coming months.  I’m pretty convinced it will help with these two really ‘normal’ problems, which would be amazing.

What’s not clear is which chronic illness is can not help or how many sessions my clients will need to make an improvement.  So we need to do more repeat treatments.

I reckon it will be good for weight loss, because of it’s motivational and detoxing abilities, but I haven’t focussed on this yet.  I can’t wait until it helps me, but the guys at Get Fitt reckon it will take another 4 months before my system normalises; argh!  (Yes, I know this shouldn’t be a priority, and I know I would tell you it’s not important!).

I’ll probably start all those case studies in a month or two, and just focus on continuing treatments with the people who have tried it so far.

In the meantime I’ve made a big decision; I’m going to take the Cocoon home for another month and see if I make as much improvement again as I did the first time.  this might seem really sensible to some people (and selfish to others), but it’s massive for me, as it’s a sign that I’m really prioritising myself ahead of other people and is a big step forward.

If I improve again, then I know that for the chronically sick I can only offer slow improvement/keep going treatments at Espiritu and that they’ll need their own cocoon to really improve (not knocking ‘keeping going’ as an option, as it’s better than ‘spiralling downwards’).  Also I’ll know whether I need to buy a Cocoon for my home usage.

But don’t worry, anyone who really needs it can still use it; I’ll bring it in once a week to Espiritu, or you can use it at my home or use the chair mat at Espiritu.

Want to try it?

Pop me a message on Facebook and we can have a chat.  If you are close, I really recommend you come and try my Cocoon.  I offer the first consultation (with a little coaching guidance) and first Cocoon treatment for free; that way if it doesn’t help there is no pressure on either of us.  My case studies are either free or on a large therapeutic discount.

If you aren’t close, Get Fitt do a ‘try before you buy’ option where you rent it for a month and then if you buy it, that rental comes off the price.  Do you mind mentioning to them that you read my blog posts, if you do take this option please?  They’ll give me a little reward and I’m putting any I get towards more products; there is no doubt that I’m going to need more support to recover completely from my Lyme disease.

At Espiritu I’ve created 10min, 20min, and 30min Far Infrared Cocoon services, a 15min coaching session for afterwards and packages of 6 for the price of 5 and 25% off 10 treatments.  Really popular is the Chair mat upgrade to pedicures/manicures/blow dries and the Cocoon upgrade to the Spa services (but remember, it will only be available 1 day per week for the next 2 months).

Remember to subscribe to this blog if you want to make sure you don’t miss the next instalment of what happens when I take the Cocoon home again and start using it on a daily basis again.

I’d love to hear from anyone else using the Get Fitt products and how it has helped.