CHRISTMAS with the kids - Enjoy, make & do

CHRISTMAS 2018 with the kids… enjoy, make and do!

Healing from Lyme naturally - Drinking water

Owning your disease... controlling your lyme symptoms and helping rid the body of toxins created by pathogens drawn out by a lyme diet.

Healing naturally from lyme takes a lot of hard work. There's a routine to get into and rules to abide by and frankly, it's dull. However, as I'd rather my life was dull and not painful - I've managed over the last 12 months to find a rhythm with it all that I'm comfortable with. The party loving/coffee relying/choc-o-holic in me never saw that coming.

Healing from lyme disease naturally - How Epsom Salt Baths work

Owning your disease... controlling your lyme symptoms and helping rid the body of toxins created by a lyme diet.

Healing from Lyme Disease naturally - Dry skin brushing

Owning your disease... controlling your lyme symptoms and helping rid the body of toxins created by a lyme diet using the dry skin brushing technique.

Prevention IS better than cure & why you need tick spray in Winter.

The Summer of 2018 brought forth a heat wave that we will all remember, not only here in the UK but around the world. Personally, I've loved the endless days of sunshine, hanging out with my two fun girls on their holiday, at long last being able to enjoy good health courtesy of my Lyme disease diet and the strict naturopath protocol I've mostly adhered to all six weeks, give or take a slice of birthday cake: I can't believe my two have turned another year older, a long with their Great Gran who reached the amazing milestone of 100!

The Ultimate Spell-Caster - a book review

Spellbinding and whacky, the brilliant new book by comic writer, cartoonist, poet and performer Mike Barfield, is indeed a recipe for fun.

Having given The Ultimate Spell-Caster to our witchy seven-year-old Fia for her birthday, she has been up to hi-jinx ever since! And then our wicked 10-year-old went and got hold of it this morning and much to her amusement...

Of course there's no end to the desirably silly concoctions available in this flipbook, allowing everyone a chance at turning whoever into whatever, with a little bit of beastly magic along the way!

Released last month - perfectly timed for Halloween - it is well thought out and well made, its pages strong enough to withstand the flicking wrist/wand action. Question is, will your constitution be up to it?

LIFE AS IT IS VERDICT:
Screamingly good fun by the team at Laurence King Publishing.

DETAILS:
Title: The Ultimate Spell-Caster
Author: Mike Barfield
Price: £10.99
Hardback
100 pages
Size: 240 x 145 mm
ISBN: 9781786273093
Published: 03/09/2018

Emma Oliver received a copy of The Ultimate Spell-Caster in exchange for this review, ideas and comments my own

The Little Guides to Great Lives Series - A book collection review

DETAILS:
Little Guides to Great Lives by Isabel Thomas
Released: 4 June 2018
Price: £8.99
Hardback, 190 x 150mm
For ages: 7-11
Featuring: Nelson Mandela
Amelia Earhart
Leonardo Da Vinci
Marie Curie
Frida Kahlo

The Little Guides to Great Lives series is a gorgeous collection of books for children, brought to you by the team at Laurenceking.com that will ignite aspiration and fire up imagination. Five books so far (with more in the pipeline) dedicated to the lives and works of all-inspiring greats such as Amelia Earhart, Nelson Mandela, Leonardo Da Vinci, Marie Curie and Frida Kahlo.

Written by Isabel Thomas, a prolific STEM writer for children, this brand new series of handy accessible guides, of course covers famous scientists, artists and revolutionaries and serves as an introduction to the most inspirational figures ever to have lived.

A joy to look at, touch and read, each of these books is beautifully depicted by a different illustrator, and covered in rich material reflecting the life of the person whose story it tells. From the moment you lay eyes on them, you know there is nothing ordinary about this collection. Rightly so, for there was nothing ordinary about each of the heroic subjects.

Subjects whose life stories, Isabel Thomas manages to condense into 62 pages of wonderful knowledge, intrigue, humour and meaning. Subjects whose lives I feel my children should share.

Frida Kahlo for example. A lady born in Mexico as its revolution unfolded, who endured great pain and hardship, but used her bold daring paintings to express her emotions and celebrate her identity. The original 'selfie' if you will. And Nelson Mandela, whose journey from political prisoner to president of South Africa is an incredible tale of triumph in the face of adversity.

Important lives of great people, told brilliantly and recorded in a fashion that children ages 7-11 can understand. Almost encyclopedic, with a glossary, timeline and index too.
A really wonderful collection!

Emma Oliver received the collection: Little Guides for Great Lives, in exchange for this review, ideas and comments my own

Respect and the road to recovery

After acknowledging and accepting my Lyme disease, I've discovered I'm also now respectful of it. Strange thing to say, but it's true. This encompasses a respect for myself, my body, and the rules I'm currently having to play by - i.e. diet, detox, saying no. That respect is making my life so much happier.

I'd even go so far as to say that having a Lyme diagnosis, makes me one of the lucky ones. Work that out?!

Meanwhile, hold on to the thought that the body is incredibly clever. It wants to heal. And given the right tools, will be able to do so. One of those tools is respect.

Ruby Red Shoes - a book review

Details: Children's hardback picture book
Title: Ruby Red Shoes A Very Aware Hare
Author: Kate Knapp
Published by: MacMillan
ISBN: 9781509891894

Price: £9.99


















This charming book was given to my two daughters by an Australian friend several years ago as it was first published there in 2012. We have cherished it ever after and my girls have grown to love it. As all great classics, it has proved itself timeless, bridging the gap from toddler to now almost 10-year-old.

Perhaps the reason for this are Kate Knapp's lyrical story and stunning illustrations. Paying great attention to detail, the cosy and bright water colours invite the reader in, every bit as the text. Both are playful and gentle, reminding each and everyone of us - not just children - what ought to be important in life: the simple things!

Ruby herself is a delightful protagonist. 'An aware hare' who lives consciously from day to day, enjoying everything about each day's routine, from the veg patch to her dumpling of a cuddly grandmother.

This book is so beautifully observed and elegantly written; wise and poetic. It is not at all surprising to find that six years down the line, Ruby Red Shoes A Very Aware Hare is being published again here in the UK. I'm pleased for Kate, and I'm pleased for Ruby, who remains every bit as fresh and fun for her new larger audience, who in no doubt will love her every bit as much as my two girls still do.

FOOTNOTE
We can't wait to read the next instalment of Ruby's adventures, when she visits Paris this September! Look out for a LIFE AS IT IS review late summer.

Emma Oliver received a copy of Ruby Red Shoes A Very Aware Hare in exchange for this review, all ideas and comments are my own

Acknowledgement + acceptance = recovery - A poem

To bridge the void that lay between dis-ease and wellness.

Two steps must be taken...

Steps that are key to recovery:

Acknowledgement and acceptance.

Lyme 0 - 1 Me

I had sat reflecting over breakfast about how the appointment with my naturopath would go. Clouded by recent illness - ten days bedridden and three weeks unwell, I was disillusioned to say the least. A Lyme relapse brought on by pushing into non-existent energy reserves had left me wondering why, when I'd been trying so hard with the detox diet I began eight months ago. A diet, I felt would play a huge part in my recovery, for lyme bacteria (and other infections also passed via tick bites) thrive on a modern western diet, so by cutting out 98% of caffeine, alcohol, refined sugar, wheat, gluten and dairy, I'd been starving the pathogens; killing off spirochetes. Or at least I thought I had. Finding myself laid out again, so unable, had been terribly disheartening and made a mockery of everything I'd been working towards regarding the natural recovery I was aiming for.

Two hours later in Basingstoke at the NTA headquarters, tests revealed a residual virus in my system that wasn't lyme at all. It wasn't Lyme! The implications of this were huge. My efforts were not in vain. I was helping my body to heal using ONLY plant based meds! My relapse had been down to not listening to the warning signs, straying from the diet, indulging in alcohol and late nights and consistently pushing myself to do more instead of rest. Yes I had been enjoying a return of energy and feeling better, but that was not to say I had any stamina. I abused the rules. And being exhausted and run down laid my body wide open to a further opportune viral infection which took ahold and knocked me for six.

Want to know the greatest thing about having that virus? I was able to fight it off myself. This time last year, it would have spiralled into a chest infection or shingles or pneumonia. Proof in itself that I am so much better and the alternative medicine route I am following is working. Kale anyone?!

My tests also showed something else. Something really rather astonishing. My lyme, plus every single other infection, Babesia and EBV to name two, have gone into remission. INTO REMISSION!

A detox diet will help with symptoms of Lyme & all disease

My lunch plan used to begin with the question ‘What do I feel like today?’ but since my Lyme Disease and co-infection diagnoses, I’ve had to think differently.

I now believe the most important part of my recovery is diet - detox is essential and certain foods will not only aid elimination, they'll also attack pathogens. Likewise certain foods will feed the machine that is disease. When I veer off the straight and narrow, boy do my symptoms flare up. I've just spent the last ten days recovering from eating, drinking and generally acting like I didn't have Lyme.

                

Keeping that in mind, today I created this delicious dish with sauerkraut for gut health, and salmon for omega, a dash of Himalayan salt for balancing blood sugar and ph, black pepper which aids digestion, extra virgin olive oil for its antioxidants, lemon for vitamin C + digestion, and apple cider vinegar (with the mother) for all manner of health properties - as well as flavour of course! I used a wholegrain spelt organic pasta as a base, cucumber for crunch and rocket to make it zing!

       

I’m not a doctor or a dietician, but I am suffering with Lyme Disease or rather the Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria. This spirochete does not like certain foods; such as parsley which aids metal detox and celery, which is full of mineral salts and provides gut acid (something I’m lacking).                        

Educating myself on what to eat has been vital for getting better. I’ve learnt that as much as a little of what you fancy does you good, a little of what you wouldn’t usually have fancied, can do you better! 

💚

Two years ago today I had a full hysterectomy...

This photo never ceases to amaze me... 2 years ago today I had a full hysterectomy. My surgeon removed a 7lb fibroid that was the size of a football. Turns out it was actually very likely down to the lyme bacteria invading my uterus - which soon became known as the womb of doom. 

I suffered painful periods, heavy too. I'd go through a box of super plus in a day. The PMT was horrendous. Emotional twists and turns which I could never see coming included outbreaks of anxiety and depression. Small wonder when you consider by the time a fibroid (cyst) is this big it becomes a little being, having a hormonal production and vascular system of its own.

My gut and tummy were plagued with problems; mainly the bloating which could look like this... My 'baby' sat on my bladder and bowel affecting how I slept too. It was like a pregnancy in so many ways. Not surprisingly many assumed it was and answering the question of 'when was I due?' became far the most difficult association attached to how I looked and felt at the time. 

But what I want to shout about here is how at the time I had no idea this was in fact all symptomatic of chronic lyme disease (lyme when it is dormant goes into cyst form, hence I’ve since had 3 breast lumps removed in 6 months). Now that I have a lyme diagnosis and I have the sometimes warped benefit of hindsight, it’s time to spread awareness on just how lyme can manifest. 

Don’t take exhaustion, fatigue or chronic fatigue lying down - excuse the pun. Recognise that it is not any kind of normal for a young woman (I was 44 when I underwent this operation) to feel that sort of tired. That sort of hormonal. That sort of anxious. That sort of sad. That sort of bloated. No, it's not actually any kind of normal full stop.

#checkyourself

#health

#raisingawareness

#wellness

#wellbeing

#hysterectomy

#womensproblems

#female

#gynae

#notpregnantinthisphoto

#LymeDisease NOT #LymesDisease

Strictly Briks Brik Tower - A review

DETAILS: Strictly Briks Brik Tower

Age: 5+
92 pieces
Comes with a satisfaction guarantee

£24.99

Strictly Briks has arrived on the market. Not easy to do when one of your rivals is a much loved Danish brick brand. But they've a neat stacking system which is standing tall amongst its competitors.

Neurologically speaking

Monday I went to London for work; I travel up once a month to produce the audio version of Tesco magazine that I also script. I’ve done it for over ten years and I love both the work and my team to bits. Monday though, I shouldn't have gone. The brain fog was extreme. I sat reading the intro having an almost out of body experience as neuro symptoms played havoc. After getting through it, I found myself struggling to get home, literally putting one foot in front of the other was exhausting. 

Having taken my recovery situation seriously, I’ve been in bed ever since. Learning to listen to a lyme ravaged body is the only way. This morning, the fog is clearing and my energy returning. I’ve neurological Lyme. This equates to major cognitive processing issues and my brain tires easily. Recognising and accepting this is very much key to understanding the stealth pathogens associated with tick borne diseases. 

Changing my diet has helped enormously. Grapefruit is just one of the foods that Lyme doesn't like. By changing my diet I am starving the bacteria. The detox is difficult to sometimes stick to. Of course it is. Who wants to eat so 'cleanly' all the time? Last week we were away for half term and not only did my diet steer off course, I kept up with everyone as if I didn't have Lyme at all - staying up 'til 1am one night, pushing myself each day until Lyme eventually caught up with me. Of course it did.

If you saw the post prior to this, you will know that only a few weeks ago, I felt incredible. With the help of a great naturopath, I AM seeing great results. I’ve been doing so well lately. This was a blatant reminder that I'm not there yet. Yes I have more energy but the difference is, I don't have stamina. I need to remember that. Monday scared me. If you have Lyme you will recognise you need to say ‘no’ to stuff. Recognise you need to not overdo it. Frankly recognise you need. And that is crap. 

A positive post as my body rediscovers its immune system

This week I had a FaceTime call with my naturopath. I was overwhelmed. Telling her how much better I'm doing seems bizarre. I would never have imagined such a radical change. Six months ago I was very unwell. Six months prior to that, just about functioning. Pre that, days when I wasn't really functioning at all were a regular occurrence. Behind closed doors was my private hell. Headaches, brain fog (sometimes Lyme dementia), tinnitus, blurred vision, dropping things, losing my balance, numbness and tingling in my arms and face, being unable to concentrate. Unable to find the words. Unable to speak at times. I even had two very scary focal seizures... and these were just the neurological symptoms I faced.

Incredibly, in the last three weeks most of these have subsided or disappeared altogether. So you see, the difference in my health since the NTA clinic in Basingstoke diagnosed Lyme Disease in January, has been extraordinary. Following a strict Lyme diet - nutrition clearly the route to wellness, taking supplements and herbs specifically to target Lyme and its co-infections, started me on my road to recovery as far as my Lyme infection turned autoimmune condition. Phases one and two have been primarily to help my liver and adrenals, with the idea that my body will rediscover its immune system and recover the energy to fight once more. Something I imagine is happening, for the energy I suddenly have is thrilling. There's light! I've a way to go still, and goodness knows when we start to attack the pathogens it'll more than likely knock me for six, but it's so good to know and FEEL I'm on the right track. Isn't the body remarkable given the right tools?

FOOTNOTE
Lyme borreliosis in humans is an inflammatory disease affecting multiple organ systems, including the nervous system, cardiovascular system, joints and muscles. The causative agent, the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted to the host by a tick bite.

Sun Awareness Week and looking after your eyes

SUN AWARENESS WEEK... Prevention is better than cure!

Did you know that... 10% of all skin cancers are found on the eyelid? No. Neither did I. And only 7% of us, when it comes to looking after our health this summer, will put eye damage at the top of our agenda. That's staggering isn't it, but I get it... Having small children, I've been great at purchasing cheap sunglasses over the years. They've been grabbed off my head a lot, stretched, sat on, you know how it goes. Frankly, the only two times that I did wear expensive sunnies, it wasn't pretty. A mate trod on my hard-earned Chianti bought Versace's, and the boyfriend buy Prada pair were stolen off a restaurant table top anyway, (can you believe it?!) which only served to reinforce not spending any money on them. But it's not a good thing is it. Knowing the stats. And knowing Lyme Disease is wrecking my sight too. Blurred vision plagues my eyesight these days, although as I continue with my healthy approach to living, I have days where they appear to be slowly improving.

Fittingly, it's a beautifully sunny day... for the start of Sun Awareness Week. Vision Express, raising awareness on the matter, have collated five top tips to eye health which are worth casting your all-important eyes over... Take heed of number four all you parents out there. P.S. Did you know they have high quality, value for money alternatives to designer glasses starting at £29? Just saying... 

Lyme Protest in Parliament Square

1st May and the Lyme disease campaign #WakeUpToLyme is all systems go. I went along to support them at the parliament protest today and found a fair few standing together fighting to raise awareness about an ugly disease that is on the rise. Talked to some great people.

It was a beautiful day for it and as I passed the London eye and hundreds of tourists enjoying London in the sunshine, I noted the scaffold covering Westminster. It looks nothing like it usually does. Struck me how it related to Lyme... For how I am on the outside is not at all how I am on the inside.

Helping your Child Lead a Healthy life with Cerebral Palsy

Every Kid Healthy Week April 2018

- Helping your Child Lead a Healthy life with Cerebral Palsy

  

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a term that encompasses several neurological disorders that permanently affect balance, muscle coordination, and movement. Typically contracted before birth, it affects every part of a child's ability to function and interact with others. Some infants display only mild forms of CP and are able to function fairly well, attend school and make friends among their peer age group. A cerebral palsy diagnosis can have a devastating effect on parents and siblings, including feelings of guilt over potential causes, and due to sibling frustration over the attention required by a child with CP.

For April and Every Kid Healthy Week, it’s important to discuss chronic life-long conditions like cerebral palsy. Developmental Disabilities like CP present serious challenges for parents and children. Understanding the condition helps embrace and navigate through some of the challenges associated with CP, and can also help parents of newborns take preventative measures against a cerebral palsy diagnosis. Please read on to understand more about life as it is with this condition...

Simply Coconuts Oil - A review

DETAILS:

200ml Premium Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

£7.95
www.simplycoconuts.co.uk

This month, Simply Coconuts, a new sensitive skin care brand for babies, announced the launch of its coconut oil. Soothing and free of any chemicals, organically farmed in Sri Lanka, this pure natural coconut oil contains simply coconuts! Cold pressed up to 10 times to release their natural oils and seal in their goodness, it's full of skin-loving vitamins and replenishing fatty acids that can ease sore, dry and itchy skin. How did it fare?