Pranamat ECO

The Pranamat ECO is a therapeutic manual massage mat that is said to help relieve minor muscle aches and pains. As both the mister and I suffer with backache for various reasons, I was delighted to be asked to review the mat to put it through its paces and see whether or not it could offer any relief.

Made from all-natural coconut, linen and cotton fibres which are kind to the skin and cause no further irritations. It is soft to the touch, pliable and moves naturally with your body making it a delight to lay on. But what about those spiky little sticking up things I hear you ask. Well the HIPS plastic Lotus Massagers are made from the same plastic used to make medical instruments and the design of a Lotus Flower to help with your therapeutic massage, they are not painful, do not pierce the skin and are really comfortable to lay on. The lotus pattern actually helps to activate the body into boosting its natural defences, metabolism, blood circulation and stimulates the lymph nodes. The end result is an enhanced resistance to inflammation and an increase in endorphins, which serve as your body’s most powerful natural painkillers.

Pranamat states: ‘The effects of the Pranamat are incredibly similar to those of acupuncture. Circulation is improved, toxins throughout the body are eliminated and muscles, joints and tissues are relaxed. The nervous system is also stimulated in order to encourage the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Not only will persistent pain be reduced, but you’ll experience a heightened state of mental and physical wellbeing.’

The mat can be used for upper, lower and middle back pain, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, help with falling asleep, sciatica, tension relieving and just for relaxation purposes. Here are some of the ways I have used the mat:

• I roll the mat out onto my bed for using on the whole of my back.  With a pillow beneath my head and shoulders as though I am going to sleep and one under my legs, I lay on top of the mat for up to half an hour, ensuring I have a thin cotton t-shirt on during this time and then just lay back and relax. For me this works really well, whilst the pain I have flares up occasionally, this mat just eases all the tension and soothes the dull ache.
• I have also taken the mat into work with me to sit on and give my back some relief whilst being sat at the computer when I have back ache, and the relief is just amazing.  I find sitting at a desk staring at a screen can be really uncomfortable, despite having a chair specially designed for those who suffer with back ache.  Adding the Pranamat onto my chair makes sitting there much more bearable and I ache much less.
• It is also amazing for shoulder aches and pains and when you just haven't got time to go and see a masseuse to get rid of those knots for you, laying down on the Pranamat with the lotus flowers in position to massage your neck and shoulders is just absolute heaven and extremely pain relieving. Carrying around a handbag which is too heavy, often does me no favours what so ever it would seem!

Having used this mat regularly for the last 4 weeks I can honestly say that it does live up to its claims.  It does take a few sessions to get used to the lotus flower spikes, but don't let that put you off, there is a reason they are designed that way and you do get used to them.  I now don't find them as uncomfortable as I did and can happily fall asleep on my mat.  It does help to relieve and give pain relief for aches and pains and it is a great stress and tension buster, perfectly designed to help you chill out, calm down, relax and become calm.

The Pranamat retails for around £90 and you can find it right here in a range of different shades and colours. 

Spring Formal Office Wear

Office wear is something I have to think about every day and I can do smart/ casual on most days, but there are other days when I am going from meeting to meeting between my office, HQ or another associated office and I need to be a little smarter. However, travelling around London can be quite a hot and stuffy nightmare and wearing a suit is just not for me, I am more of a dress, tights, flat shoes and blazer kind of girl.

So, I have created an office wear wishlist that would see me both comfortably cool without a blazer and not to hot and stuffy when I do need to wear one and the blazers in this collage I actually own, so picking dresses to go with them was quite fun to do.

There is a lot of choice when it comes to buying office wear both online and on the highstreet and there are always a nice variety of styles to suit every one.

• Hale Bob UK Body con dress in black to the far left of the collage is the most expensive dress but I love that it goes from being a classic LBD but with a slight twist, it can be dressed up for going out with just a pair of boots and would work well with a leather jacket! 
• House of Fraser caught my eye with the Dickins Jones Fit and Flare Dress which is currently in the sale here and it again has a slight twist in that the top half is detatchable, so you can again dress it up or down.  
• In the middle is a black ruched sheath dress that I saw in TK Maxx at the weekend and almost bought, but I have one which is very similar with longer sleeves. What I love about these types of dresses is that when you are having one of those 'meh' days and nothing fits right, these dresses always make you look fabulous and again it is perfect for the office or going out afterwards.  
• The Evans Jersey pocket dress is the only one with pockets and I love the shape and design of it, perfect for wearing to work and is a dress that can be glammed up for a night out.  
• The final dress is from New Look and is a black scallop hem Tunic dress which has a v-neck, cap sleeves and a scalloped hem and is again perfect for the office, adding a blazer too or going out in.

Now that I have my office wear sorted, it is time to find some suitable shoes!  

Purrfect Box for Cats - March Edition

The big pink cat box arrived with some excitement for my boys this when the Purrfect box** arrived. Purrfect box is a UK subscription service which allows you to treat your cat, or your dog (Pawsome Box) and each month you will receive a box of treats, toys, accessories, hygiene and personal care products customized and based on the cat's age, size, weight, fur type and preferences. Anyone who reads my blog or follows me on Instagram will know what a big part my three cats play in my life, Hector even has his own Instagram!

Each month has a different theme so you get different goodies each month. The cost is £19.50 per month or £15.50 if you subscribe yearly and this was what was in the box.

Again another box which has an amazing variety of products from toys and treats to snacks. When I open the box, I always let the three of them have a look inside to see if there is anything which takes their fancy.

Starting with the food options, Trixie has become a brand that I am now aware of and my three are always fans of the food options given. The Chicken Tenders are 100% steam cooked chicken fillets which are packed in vaccum sealed packets and make a nice treat in between meals. The Cat Malt (which appears on Hector's Instagram) helps to regulate metabolism and promotes good digestion. An easy way to help resolve feline digestive problems such as hairballs. Also makes a good alternative to cat grass.

Purr by Wagg treats are designed for hairball control and they are again designed as a treat for between meals and have proven to be a big hit with my three, who love anything like this.  The treats are vitamin enriched and preserved with added natural antioxidents from rosemary extract and they contain no artificial colours or flavours.

The final products within the box come in a variety of shape and sizes for toys and thankfully each cat took ownership of a separate toy otherwise there would have been trouble!

The Skinneeeze catnip filled chicken was first out the box with Dexter who aores catnip and the chicken was played with for hours and hours and even now, it is usually by Dexter's side when he is in the house rather than out killing rats - yes real live vermin things!  Then added to the toy choices are the two Balls with an attached feather by Camon and these are designed to stimulate your cat's hunting instinct, something Dexter definitely does not need any help with, but the three cats, especially Dude, love them and spend hours throwing them around in an attempt to 'kill it'.

The final item in the box is by Karlie, a brand I am not aware of but the product in question is Thermoplastic rubber ball which is catnip scented and doubles up as a treat ball with snacks inside. It also floats and is kind to the teeth and Hector loves chases it around, more so if a treat falls out and it is a great way to encourage exercise.

So again, this box has proven to be a huge hit with my three boys, who have devoured the snacks and treats and wholly enjoyed their new play toys. The Purrfect Box and as I have said before, it is a real treat for my boys to get and as soon as they see the box they know exactly what it is and cannot wait for me to rip it open. If you have a friend who has cats, then this would make a fantastic present!

L'Occitane Shea Butter Skincare Essentials

Did you know that in the 1908's, L'Occitane was one of the first laboratories to develop a complete skincare range made with Shea Butter? Well it has gone on to be one of the best selling ranges and is suitable for all skin types.

Rich in Omega 6, Karitene and Vitamin E, Shea butter is nourishing, protecting and repairing, it is an ingredient that does it all and my skin loves it and laps it up. I was recently sent two amazing products from L'Occitane which I am absolutely loving - Shea Face Soothing Fluid and Shea Face Comforting Oil.

Shea Face Soothing Fluid has been especially designed for sensitive skin. It soothes and hydrates skin while protecting it from external aggressions which can lead to tightness, redness and prickling or burning sensations. L'Occitane have used carefully selected active ingredients rosehip and calendula and have combined with shea butter (5%) to help:

• nourish dry skin and optimise skin's barrier function
• soothe the skin
• strengthen skin’s natural defences

On the skin this fluid is incredibly soothing and hydrating.  With all of this stormy weather we seem to have right now with the wind and rain literally battering the skin, I find that I need to use products that do that little bit extra.

Shea Face Comforting Oil is a 100% natural face oil enriched with shea oil (5%) to nourish and repair the skin. Combining Shea Oil (5%) for its unique nourishing properties, Marula Oil for its antioxidant properties the formula helps the skin to regenerate by strengthening its barrier function. Skin feels better protected, soft and supple.

I have combination skin with an oily T-zone and used to assume that adding an oil to oily skin would lead to a total oil slick, this has never been the case. I find this oil absorbs really quickly into the skin leaving no trace it was ever there, the texture is a really fine oil and it has a dry finish. When using it, I pump, using the dispenser, a few drops onto the palm of my hand and rubbing them together to slightly warm the oil, massage into my face and neck. The result is one of soft, smooth and really hydrated skin, perfect for this horrible cold and windy weather.

Both of these products work exceptionally well together or on their own and are perfect for skin which needs a little bit of TLC, especially with the rapid change in weather.