Collins Elite Mid-Year Diary

I have a really busy job, well busy life to be honest with you and I tend to store most of it in my iPhone, relying on it to tell me which meetings are when and where, whether that is work life, home life or blog life and do you know what, it isn't the best method, I need a back up plan.

When Collins Diaries got in touch to see if I would like to try out one of their products I jumped at the chance and this little beauty came into my life.

The Collins Elite Planning System is a Mid-Year Pocket Week diary which starts in July 2015 and ends in July 2016.  The diary is fully refillable and wire bound with a removable personal directory within which you store all your important names, address and phone numbers.  I absolutely adore the padded case which protects my diary, it is quite retro in design and as soon as I saw it, I knew it is the one I would choose.

Inside the planner, the actual diary is week to view, which I find really helpful. There is more than enough space to record 4-5 meetings, events or even write reminders in each of the dates provided and it has a handy little cream ribbon to use a book mark so your diary opens on the right week.

Aside from the diary part, there is also a front section which contains all sorts of useful information.  In the front of the diary there is a list of International Holidays, A Conversion Guide, World Standard Times Guide so you always know what time it is somewhere in the world, International Dialing Codes.  Then at the back of the diary, as well as having somewhere to write notes, there is a Financial Summary which allows you to write a brief guide of incoming and outgoing monies, a list of useful numbers such as National Rail Enquiries, a London Tube Map (uber handy) and a Map of the UK.

The diary planner is the perfect size for any handbag and is so lightweight, it makes it much easier to transport around than a Filofax, which can be quite bulky.  For a hectic life in London, this for me is brilliant and it costs just £10.50.

What do you use to keep yourself on track, on time and punctual?

Don’t Step on a Bee Day - Bee Good Honey & Camelina Facial Exfoliator

Bee Good is one of my favourite brands, I am yet to dislike one of their products and I love the brand ethos. Today is #DontStepOnABeeDay and Bee's are quite precious. Did you know that globally the lives of our bees are still severely under threat. There's the deadly mite called Varroa accidentally imported from Asia, the loss of natural habitat, a lack of forage from declining wildflower meadows and a toxic cocktail of pesticides used widely in crop production. Just as these tiny insects have a vital role to play in the sustainability of humanity, we all have a role to play in their survival and the sustainability of their environment. Below are some top tips to help look after bees!

Aside from not stepping on Bees, Bee Good have just released the latest installment from their beauty range, the Honey & Camelina Facial Exfoliator and I have been using it for a few weeks now and absolutely love it. 

Why do I like it so much? Well 
it is packed full of amazing ingredients such as:

• British Wild Flower Honey - helps to moisturise the skin
• British Propolis (extract) - Using its antibacterial properties on problematic skin
• British Camelina sativa seed oil - helps to moisturise the skin
• Wheatgerm oil - soothes and helps restore moisture
• Milled Lavender flowers - gently yet effectively exfoliate without irritating

The advice for this exfoliator has been to use it one or twice a week, which I have been doing.  Texture wise it is really creamy and smells absolutely divine, but on the skin, whilst you can feel it working on the skin, it isn't overly abrasive and therefore doesn't scratch, but wow does it make your skin feel not only clean, but soft and smooth after using.  

This is a great product to try, especially if you want an exfoliator that is kind to your skin, is a great one a week treat and is British!  It is a great way to fly the flag and help Bees.

Don’t Step on a Bee Day

Here are our Top 5 Bee Care Tips to give you inspiration for Don’t Step on a Bee Day:

1. Don’t step on a bee! (Of course)
2. Buy British! The majority of our honey here in the UK is imported, but with the wealth of bee keepers on our doorstep there is really no need. Support your local bee keeper by visiting a near-by farm shop or deli and enjoy their precious produce for breakfast on some warm buttered toast - yum!
3. Plant seedballs! We send you these with every Bee Good order placed on beegood.co.uk – it couldn’t be easier! Simply scatter these seed balls containing wildflower seeds, clay, compost & chilli powder in your garden to create hundreds of attractive, bee-friendly blooms.
4. Build a bee hotel! Did you know that bees need somewhere to rest when they venture out on their pollen mission? Get the kids involved and get building! Find out more at: www.foe.co.uk.
5. Adopt a bee! If you want to help the honeybees but don’t have the space or time, you can adopt a colony for as little as £25 per month! This includes a certificate, e-mail updates and you can even get a plaque with your name on the side of the hive. Find out more at: www.barnesandwebb.com.