Parents are the most important and effective educators in a child's life!
Study after study shows that reading for pleasure makes a huge difference to children’s educational performance and a big aid towards good mental health and well-being; and it is NEVER too early!  It helps to increase their imagination, vocabulary and increase their understanding of others and build better relationships.
Sharing stories can help your child to know sounds, social skills, manners and how to develop empathy.  It stimulates their brains, helps them to know what is ‘real’ and what is ‘make believe!’ Learning the consequences of their behaviour and actions- good and bad, are one of the most valuable lessons you can teach your child. 
Every parent wants their child to have an understanding of family values that are important to them, learning about friendship, emotional support, responsibility and understanding of the world around them. Books are a powerful teaching tool for any parent.
Here is a book for you to buy – A Christmas Surprise - a story which is easy to understand with a True Message of Christmas! 
​ Teach your child to love, hope and give.  For Less than £3.00 Why would you NOT?
(Click image to buy)

Being a mum is one of the most rewarding opportunities to be blessed with and one that cannot be taken lightly.  You give up so much and keep on giving for as long as you are alive.  You become a 'before' and 'after' person; a life changing experience like no other.  
My sister and her daughter (my niece) sat down one day and wrote a beautiful poem together, which reflects the journey of a mother and child and I would like to share it with you all.

Warrior Mum
A Mother’s Day poem
Written by Sherry Taylor & Isabelle Wilson

Don’t notice the stretchmarks,
See the life you created
They’re really the watermarks,
Of a Mum that graduated

Don’t hate those hips,
Your thighs or your tummy
They’re only skin deep,
The mark of a Mummy

Your body was your armour,
It guarded the unborn
You’re a veteran now,
Bring on the next storm!

The scales might berate you,
Leave you broken and undone
But they haven’t been through
The war you have won

The body can transform,
You are more powerful than you think
Living and creating life
You can achieve anything!

Just as sure as the sun rises,
And the moon haunts the sky
Like the phoenix from the ashes,
You will soar and you will fly!

Colours play a very important part in our lives and most of the time, we do not realise how and why. We go out shopping buying clothes, food, furnishings all of which involve choosing colours.  Colours in food have health benefits; colours we wear and surround ourselves with can have mood changing effects all of which we are completely unaware of when shopping.  So should we not try and understand their meaning and perhaps consciously choose the colours we have in our homes, personal belongings and any item of importance?

Sadly though, when it comes to colour, we tend to follow the trend and the latest fashion rather than considering our personality, mood and the healing power of any colour you may be considering or disregarding simply because it is 'in' or 'out' of fashion and trend.  Growing up I had always thought that people wanted to be different; but in actual fact we do not want this and go along with whatever is in fashion and popular whether we realise it or not.  As an estate agent, I noticed the wave of change in peoples' home decor; all magnolia walls or now, all grey!  The fashion magazines announce their verdict on the 'new colour of the year' and off we go changing our wardrobes, walls and accessories.  I guess it keeps the heart of consumerism heating.

After some study and research into 'colour psychology'  I was amazed to find out just how powerful and life enhancing it can be by simply understanding and having awareness of colours and introducing the correct ones for us into our lives consciously and knowingly.  So I have decided to defy the modern, the fashion and the dictated and will be choosing to make some changes to my way of thinking about colour when I am next purchasing an item.

Here are some brief meanings to some of the most common colours to help you get started on your journey should you choose to do the same:

BLUE: Increases calmness and peace, represents honesty, kindness & vitality.
RED: Increases stamina, energy, passionate and angry.
GREEN: Represents harmony, peace, nature, emotional acceptance & balance.
YELLOW:Increases creativity and personal power, happy, optimism & courage.
ORANGE: Assists emotional expression, enthusiasm, warmth & affection.
PURPLE: Stimulates intuition & universal flow, healing & imagination.

​Enjoy - Samia



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Your home is where you start and end your day and so it should not come as a total surprise to us that our living space plays a key role in forming our moods and the level of energy we may have to give to our day.  Our mood at the start and at the end of the day has a huge effect on our behavior, our self-esteem and how we interact with people we are close to; our families, friends, colleagues and the world in general.  It can determine our attitude to life and so determine an outcome of any situation as a positive or a negative one.

Scientific research has shown that it is very difficult for a human mind to function healthily without it being in harmony with its' surroundings because the mind cannot live independently of its' environment.  Therefore for me,  it is crucial  that my home is clean and organised.  It helps with my overall well-being because I can find things when I need them, it allows me to be sociable because I want my family and friends to enjoy my home and create a positive environment in which my interactions with others helps me to build confidence which in turn gives me empowerment over how I want to live my life.

You may want to read....'the life changing magic of tidying up' by Marie Kondo.  It was New York Times best seller.

Clearly the benefits of having a clean and a organised home are numerous; but one of my favorite reasons for having my home clean is that it makes me happy and so it allows me to be creative and play a conscious and an active role in my life in a way which reflects my personality and my values. 
I can truly feel the meaning of the words....'home is where the heart is.'

​

As we arrived at Latham Place in Dartford to cut grass for one of our most valued clients Abbey Homes, it was amazing to see so many mushrooms growing on the grass. Not only was I surprised to find so many of them, it was also amazing to see just how many different shapes, sizes and colours there were.  
Nature never fails to amaze and leave me in total wonder, it also leaves me with so many questions; more questions than answers.  Nature not only feeds us but also heals and saves our lives - not to forget, it can also kill us.  What power it holds!
​

Christmas and the New Year are only weeks away and each day that passes I can see that people around me are getting more and more stressed. They are worried about what they are going to buy, when will they have the time, have they got enough money, how will I meet everyone’s expectations and be the best host for the main event. List of things to do seem endless and the resources and time are limited. All this can be so over whelming that most people allow themselves to be pulled pillar to post trying to juggle everything and make the big day happen according to their hopes and wishes. Surely this is not what Christmas is all about? Where is the magic, the wonder, the faith and peace? Are we looking for Christmas in Bluewater and the High Streets and in fulfilling the desires of others wants and needs?
I decided a couple of years ago to make some changes to my habits, expectations and focus over Christmas and the New Year. I truly wanted to experience the Christmas spirit; the spirit of joy and giving and sharing. So here are some tips that you can apply and see if it works for you.

1. Put Yourself First. By that I mean, evaluate your resources, time and work and then plan a Christmas around that. Pay your bills and put all your obligations before
hurrying off anxiously trying to please everyone. Your stability for the rest of the 364 days is important and you need to keep that in mind. So have a budget and stick to it.

2. Lose Your Ego. Look at your motives behind purchasing big and expensive presents, over loading the fridge with food enough for a month, the need to have this and that and everything else in between. Most of us are competing with friends, family, neighbours and the media that we get lost in the competition and forget the
meaning and the reason behind this big annual event.

3. Make a Plan and Delegate. Write a list of things to do and share responsibility with the other members of your family or whoever is going to be involved. Sharing
responsibilities also makes everyone feel that they too are a part of the big day and have also played their role in making it a fun and happy day/event for everyone.
Research has shown that when a group of people share a common goal and work towards achieving that goal as a team, they are more likely to achieve success.

4. Get Creative. Being creative is exercising your mind and achieves a similar reaction to your mind as exercise does to your body. So cook as much at home rather than buying, get creative with your decorations, gifts and food. Not only will this save you money you will be amazed at how good you will feel.

5. Make Time To Relax. When we get busy and have lots to do to meet deadlines, it can all get overwhelming and Christmas is a time when we think we have to get everything done and make no time to stop and relax. We fear that if we do nothing then we are losing precious time when there is so much to do. The irony is that if we
stop and make time to relax, we will actually have more energy to do all the things that need to get done and are likely to achieve it without getting stressed and tired. I have found that by the time the actual day arrives, most of us are so tired that we are too tired to actually enjoy all that we have had planned.

6. Finally, Hold Gratitude. Be thankful for all that you have rather than feel depressed or inadequate about what you don’t have. It is a big world out there and so think of the bigger picture; there are so many people out there who have less than nothing and are going through poverty, ill health, loss, grief and horror. Cancer and homelessness does not go away for people just because it is December 25th, so do something to help and give to another, seek the Christmas spirit in Love and in being human, not in your bank account and a Gucci bag.
​
So here’s wishing you all a stress free lead up to the Big Day.
Samia

Exploring relaxation can help you look after yourself when you’re feeling stressed or worried. Have a look at these tips and ideas to see how relaxation can fit into your daily life. Don’t worry if some ideas don’t work for you – just enjoy the ones that do:

Take a break.
Relaxation doesn’t have to take up lots of your time. Just stepping away from something stressful for a few minutes or taking time away from your normal routines and thoughts can give you enough space and distance to feel calmer. Read a book or a magazine, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Run yourself a bath, watch a film, play with a pet or try out a new recipe.
​
Try active relaxation.
Relaxation doesn’t have to mean sitting still – gentle exercise can help you relax too. Take a walk, going at your own pace. You might choose to go for a longer walk, but even a few minutes of walking can help you feel relaxed. Look for a class you'd like to try, such as yoga, Pilates or gentle stretching. See our page on physical activity and mental health for more tips. If you're interested in getting more active to support your mental health, take a look at our Get Set to Go campaign to find out more about how you can get active in your local area.

Focus on your breathing.
Learning to breathe more deeply can help you feel a lot calmer. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Try to keep your shoulders down and relaxed, and place your hand on your stomach – it should rise as you breathe in and fall as you breathe out. Count as you breathe. Start by counting 'one, two, three, four' as you breathe in and 'one, two, three, four' as you breathe out. Try to work out what’s comfortable for you.