Design the Lifestyle YOU Desire's Staycation Guide

Design the Lifestyle You Desire’s Guide

This year, we are planning a StayCation at home. A true StayCation is more than just a week at home, it is an intentional time of fun and relaxation for your whole family. It does take a little effort to do it right, but can ultimately be just as satisfying as going somewhere far away.

The first thing you must do when on a StayCation is make a checklist.

Below is my checklist listed in the order I accomplished it.

Set some ground rules The point of a StayCation is to make it feel as much like a real family getaway as possible, without leaving the comfort of your own home. Thus, to make sure the whole family is on the same page, it is good to start with some ground rules that everyone can agree on. Start with deciding exactly when your vacation at home starts and ends, and then set a few guidelines for what your family may and may not do during this time. Start by setting a reasonable, realistic budget for your week of fun at home. Set some money aside for activities, eating out, and perhaps even paying for a splurge or two such as paying for a house cleaner or treating yourself to a massage or pedicure at a local spa.

How long will StayCation last?

Dates: Budget for food: Budget for activities: What rules will you put in place for your StayCation?

What activities will you coordinate?

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Have you ever wondered who THEY are?

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THEY say we must follow this trend THEY say we should never give our children treats THEY say we should burn ourselves out in a quest to become superwomen

Who is this mysterious lot and how did they write such a ridiculous (invisible) rulebook that everyone seems anxious to follow? Why do we put ourselves under so much pressure to follow THEIR rules.

Well, here’s an idea: a challenge if you like. Why don’t you throw out these extreme notions of social conformity – that are actually non-existent – and live life according to your own set of values and morals (within the limits of the law of course!). Radical, huh?

Wouldn’t you be far happier, fulfilled, content, confident and all those other feel-good words if you lived life your way?

So many mums believe there is a handbook that we must follow when raising children. Yet every child, every mother and every father is different.

Empower yourself to find what works for you and your family, and start enjoying life. In essence, get back to basics and recapture all those values YOU truly believe in.

You have a wealth of qualities and experiences to draw on when making decisions, be they day-to-day or life changing. Researching your options choices but stop worrying about what

obviously helps you make informed every Tom, Dick or Harry would do in your situation. Do what YOU want to do!

Have the confidence to realise what you believe in counts. You have friends, a partner, family and colleagues who all value the many different aspects of your personality.

Celebrate this and use it to your advantage i.e. to bring happiness into your own life.

Rose Hill Designs by Heather Stillufsen

Self-Love & Self-Ca

are Calendar 2016

IN-SPACES

Put the World on Hold

The Orchard

Take time out - literally. Eliminating reminders of time helps wipe away the stress of the daily grind.

Gather up all the clocks in your house and stash them in a dresser drawer.

Throw your watch in next to them.

Leave them there for the whole day (or two, or five).

Turn off the ringers on your phones and mute the answering machine. Check messages only when you want to, keeping in mind that "not at all" is always an option.

Do an “out of the office� message for your e-mail(s). Say you won't be checking your e-mail till you're back from vacation. Then power down the computer and put it away.

Plan it all

Plan your meals. The beauty of staying at home is that you can cook or prepare most of your meals rather than having to eat out the whole vacation. Get your family involved by having them tell you what their favourite meals are and you can plug those into your weekly plan. Or, you could always get some of those meals off your Pinterest boards and onto your plates. Create a daily menu, themed on a country.

Get your house cleaned from top to bottom. Have a proper clean the weekend before you start your vacation.

Set the Mood

Roll up and stash your rugs so your Colonian Watch by Sweetpea & Willow

naked feet can enjoy that beach-house feeling of walking on cool wooden floors.

Play a vacation sound track. As any self-respecting escapist can tell you, the next best thing to being there is grooving around the house to the music you'd be listening to if you were there. If in your dreams you're strolling the beaches of Bahia, play the classic bossa nova of Joao Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Relax outside by candlelight. If there's nothing on your evening agenda but zoning out to good music and enjoying good company - your own, perhaps? Set out dozens of tea-lights (or line the edge of the patio with large pillar candles on plates). Your favourite songs, or simply the natural harmonies of a summer evening, will sound even sweeter when your senses are more attuned to them.

Have Fun

Indulge in a vacation-reading binge. An armchair journey is a trip, too, when taken in the company of an evocative writer. First, create an ideal setting: Pick your most comfortable chair , making sure that you'll have all the light you need. Then furnish it with the necessary props: a throw for when it gets chilly; reading glasses, if you wear them; a tall glass of your beverage of choice (or a travel mug or a thermos to keep it warm or cool); a dictionary for words that make you go "hmm"; a notebook and a pen for jotting down phrases that make you go "aah." Tackle a classic you never got around to in college, or if that feels too much like homework, try a summer blockbuster.

Take a camping trip in your own garden. Borrow or buy a ten. Pack drinks in thermoses and snacks in Ziploc bags. Bring sleeping bags or blankets, flashlights, and mosquito repellent for everyone. And arm yourself with enough ghost stories to keep little ones up thrillingly past their bedtimes.

Decorate your fantasy home. Head to your town's best newsstand and select the glossiest decorating magazines you can find. Then curl up with a pen and Post-its and start shopping. Money’s no object: If you love that five-million pound castle in Belgium, excellent. Mark it, then furnish it from your cache of glossies. Revisit it occasionally, and congratulate yourself on your impeccable taste.

Have your own 3 day film festival. Pick a theme - create a favourite list on Netflix, or rent some from your local library. Lay in a supply of your favourite movie snacks, however trans-fatty and decadent. (Reminder: It's your vacation, and it's only a few days.) Turn off all the phones, turn out the lights, and slip away.

Declare Water-Game Day. Buy or borrow a kiddie pool, turn on the sprinkler, unravel the hose, and commandeer as many spray bottles, buckets, tubs, and water pistols as possible. Decree a compulsory all-day uniform of swimsuit and bare feet (and, of course, waterproof sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15).

Bring the Spa to You Turn your bathroom into an aromatherapy spa. Stop in at a health-food store to pick out a selection of essential oils in scents you like (calming lavender, rose oil, or chamomile; energizing peppermint or lemon verbena), or try one of Lush’s all-natural scrubs. Then draw a warm bath, sink into it, and let Mother Nature do her botanical best for you.

Make staying hydrated a beautiful thing: Fill your prettiest pitchers with ice water and slices of lemon, orange, or cucumber. Place them (each with a glass) at various strategic points around the house and in a shady spot outside. Then, as you go about your day, stop often to take a long, cool, flavourful pull.

Hire a massage therapist who makes house calls. Ask friends for recommendations, or do a bit of Web research. Most good day spas will dispatch a therapist for a home visit; 20 percent is the standard gratuity for house calls. If your garden is relatively private (and shady), consider having your rubdown in the great outdoors.

Indulge in Luxury-Hotel Amenities

Dream-catcher by Dobbies

Buy yourself a plush white cotton or terry robe, the kind you itch to tuck into your suitcase when you check out.

Slip into it when you wake up, sit with a mug of your morning brew - perhaps delivered on a tray by room service (a.k.a. your partner) - and savour that pampered feeling.

Sleep on ultra-high-thread-count sheets - or just the pillowcases.

Loaf.com

www.myuniquehome.co.uk Have nightly turndown service. Buy a box of beautifully wrapped chocolates or caramels. Then dispatch a different family member each evening to fold back blankets, smooth sheets, and leave a sweet or two on each pillow.

My Clients are IN CHARGE

of creating their OWN

Miracles!

7 Tips To Make Your Home A Mini Mindfulness Retreat

O

nce a month, I conduct my very own mini-mindfulness retreat at

home with a day of mindful activities, in total silence.

A day of at-home mindfulness offers the opportunity to be with ourselves and our emotions, in a place that feels safe. It retrains the mind to be present and gives the body time to unwind.

The benefit to having a retreat at home is that it's free and you can repeat it as often as you like. The only downside is that you will be surrounded by the regular distractions of your home, so you will need to exercise a certain degree of willpower.

I usually give myself the luxury of a weekend retreat which I start on a Saturday (I drop my daughter off at her grandma’s house after school on Friday and come back home in the evening). I switch off my phone, tablet and laptop.

I start my morning with a glass of warm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice while standing in the door breathing in fresh air. I then go for a quick run :) Once back, I spend rest of the morning meditating — sometimes spending periods of time looking out of the window sipping a cup of my favourite tea (Earl Grey!) and noticing the colour of the flowers, the sounds of the birds, the shape of the clouds.

For lunchtime I always prepare something that will nourish my body. I sit at the table to eat mindfully, and stop eating when I am full.

After lunch, I might do some journaling, play my piano or do some gardening. I don’t read much, so this can easily lead to too much thinking. So to counteract that I'll do a session of mindful yoga, focusing on my breath.

Come 3.30-4PM, I start preparing dinner—in this case comfort food. One of the things I LOVE about cooking is that cooking a meal is one of the most personal and intimate things you can do. The speciality about a home cooked meal is the feeling of abundance it provides, everything you have and need is right in the front of you within arms reach.

Once I have indulged in my dinner, I go for a long walk while listening to a podcast or something inspirational. I come home, make myself a healthy dessert and watch a movie (did I say I LOVE movies?)

One hour before bed-time, I transform my bedroom into a SPA (got an en-suite), I put on tranquil music, light a SPA candle and treat myself to facemask, manicure, pedicure and so on.

Want to have your own mini-mindfulness retreat in your own home? On the next page are seven tips for a day (weekend) of mindfulness —->

.1 Wake and stretch.

When you wake, stretch your body and when you get up really feel your feet connecting with the earth, the temperature of the carpet against the soles of your feet.

2. Shower mindfully.

When you shower, notice the sound of the water, the temperature, the scent of your soap, the feel of your hands on your skin, the texture of the towel as you dry yourself.

3. Dress with awareness.

When you dress, notice the colours you choose, the feel of the fabric against your skin, the movement of your limbs as you pull your clothes on.

4. Cook with love.

Preparing food should be a pleasurable experience. Notice the temperature of the water as you wash your salad, hear the sound of the knife as it slices through peppers, feel the texture of the lettuce as you

shake it dry.

5. Savour every bite.

When you eat, take the time to sit at a table. Look at your food as if seeing it for the very first time. How does it smell? Chew slowly, maybe using a different side of the mouth or teeth than what is habitual. And of course, stop eating when you are full.

6. Meditate.

During a silent mindfulness day you should try to avoid speaking. When you take time for meditation, you can use a recorded, guided meditation if you need to. Otherwise, meditate in silence for as long as you like.

7. Move with mindfulness.

You could practice yoga or go for a walk in nature. Try using a faster or slower pace than what is usual for you to help heighten your awareness of the present moment.

Begin your retreat without expectations or goals. There is nothing to achieve. See what happens for you without casting judgement. If you feel tired afterward, don’t worry, this is normal after a period of time spent sitting with your emotions and allowing your mind and body to rest.

Summer is finally just around the corner and it’s time to start planning those much anticipated summer breaks and getaways. In the last few years, the UK has seen an increased number of people opt for a ‘staycation’ or ‘holistay’ instead of jumping on the nearest plane and getting away from Britain. There are several reasons for this, not least of all the prices, ease of planning and the option to go with your whole family easily, but one of the biggest reasons people are packing their tents and hitting the roads has to do with that small little thing that we often forget about: nature.

There is nothing more enjoyable than reconnecting with your natural surroundings, whether it’s waking up to the sound of the sea, or spending a few nights in a yurt in a hidden valley.

Nature is one of the biggest factors which helps to increase our happiness and wellbeing and decrease the chances of us getting illnesses such as anxiety, depression and in some cases heart problems. However, it’s not as easy as it sounds, we live a digital device with people connected to their smartphones constantly and some people thinking that a place with no signal is their idea of hell. You have to push yourself outside your comfort zone and almost go cold turkey with your digital life in order to experience what life is really about.

If you have children, it’s important to raise them to understand that there is a whole world out there which can’t be seen through a phone. A recent study conducted by The Camping and Caravanning Club showed that a shocking 96% of adults believe that they were happier as children because they spent more time outdoors and 72% think social media is affecting their children’s ability to interact and engage with others. Not only with a camping holiday help improve you and your families overall health, but the ability to play outside and interact with others in real life as opposed to online is incredibility important when it comes to development and progression.

People don’t like being pushed out of their comfort zone, it means that there is new territory which you have to traverse, new things to try out and you will have to do things which you are not particularity comfortable with.

Whether you are a business mind, attached to your blackberry, a youngster who is obsessed with Pokémon Go, or just someone who likes updating Instagram as much as the next person, only by putting these devices down, stepping out of your comfort zone and experiencing what’s actually in front of you will you start to understand what life has to offer and what it’s actually about.

Passion for Food One of the things I LOVE about cooking is that cooking a meal is one of the most personal and intimiate things you can do for someone. You're literally providing plated nourishment made with your own hands and creativity - even if you're following a recipe, you picked the recipe and planned the meal didn't you? The speciality about a home cooked meal is the feeling of abundance it provides, everything you have and need is right in the front of you within arms reach. The fragrance of garlic, the crackle from the skillet, end the sight of perfectly roasted bird coming out from the oven....DIVINE! Cooking speaks to all of my senses.

It's a joy I'm so proud to know!

1 Citrus Tuna Pasta Salad Ingredients

 12 ounces dried mafalda  2 9-ounce packages frozen arti-

choke hearts, thawed  2 9-1/4-ounce cans chunk white tuna (water packed), drained and broken into chunks  2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms  2 cups chopped yellow sweet peppers  1/2 cup sliced, pitted ripe olives1 recipe Lemon Dressing

 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved 1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions 1. Cook pasta in a Dutch oven according to package directions, adding the artichoke hearts the last 5 minutes of cooking; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again. Halve any large artichoke hearts.

2. Transfer pasta and artichoke hearts to a very large bowl. Gently stir in tuna, mushrooms, sweet peppers, and olives.

3. Pour Lemon Dressing over pasta mixture; toss to coat. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours. Before serving, gently stir in tomatoes and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Makes 8 servings.

Lemon Dressing:

Directions Combine spinach, pears, and cheese.

For dressing whisk together vinegar, mustard, 1 tsp. each sugar and salt, and 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper.

Whisk in oil. Drizzle on salad and pass remaining.

In a small bowl whisk together 2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel; 1/3 cup lemon juice; 1/3 cup rice vinegar or white wine vinegar; 1/4 cup salad oil; 2 tablespoons snipped fresh thyme or basil or 2 teaspoons dried thyme or basil, crushed; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; and 4 cloves garlic, minced. Makes about 3/4 cup.

3 Scallops with Tarragon Cream and Wilted Butter Lettuce Ingredients

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2 Spinach, Pear & Shaved Parmesan Salad Ingredients

 8 cups fresh baby spinach  2 Bosc pears, quartered lengthwise, cored, and thinly sliced

 2 oz. Parmesan or Parmigiano 

Reggiano cheese, shaved 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar 1 Tbsp. whole-grain mustard 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

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2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter, divided 1/4 cup minced shallots 1/2 cup dry white wine 1/3 cup whipping cream 4 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon, divided 1 1/2 teaspoons Pernod or other aniseflavored liqueur (optional) 8 large sea scallops, patted dry 1 small head of butter lettuce, leaves separated

Directions Melt 1 tablespoon butter in small skillet over medium heat. Add shallots; sauté 3 minutes. Add wine; boil until reduced by

half, about 2 minutes. Add cream, 3 teaspoons tarragon, and Pernod, if using. Simmer until sauce coats back of spoon, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.

4 Avocado Pesto-Stuffed Tomatoes

cheese, pesto, and lemon juice. Cover; process until smooth. Spoon filling into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain round or open star tip.

3. Place tomatoes, open sides up, on a serving platter. Pipe filling into the tomato cups. Serve immediately or cover loosely and refrigerate up to 4 hours before serving. Sprinkle with snipped basil before serving. Makes 30 appetizers.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.

Sprinkle scallops with salt and pepper; cook until brown and almost cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer scallops to plate. Add lettuce to drippings in skillet; toss until beginning to wilt, about 1 minute. Spoon sauce onto 2 plates; divide lettuce between plates.

Place 4 scallops on each plate; sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon tarragon.

Ingredients

 30 cherry tomatoes (about 1-1/4 pints)

 1/2 medium avocado, pitted, peeled, and cut up

 2 oz. cream cheese, softened  2 Tbsp. homemade or purchased 

basil pesto 1 tsp. lemon juice Snipped fresh basil (optional)

Directions 1. Cut a thin slice from the top of each tomato. (If desired, cut a thin slice from bottoms of tomatoes so they stand upright.) With a small spoon or small lemon baller carefully hollow out the tomatoes. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Invert tomatoes on the towels. Let stand 30 minutes to drain.

2. Meanwhile, for filling, in a food processor bowl combine avocado, cream

5 WATERMELON-TOMATO SKEWER Ingredients  1 small seedless watermelon  4 cherry tomatoes  4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar  1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil  8 tiny baby basil leaves

Directions 8 bamboo skewers Kosher salt Cut top and bottom off the watermelon to level it. Sit it upright and cut away the rind. Cut into 1-inch cubes, reserve.

Bring a small pot of water to boil. Have a small bowl of ice water on the side.

Carefully drop the cherry tomatoes into the water. Allow to cook for 10 seconds.

Put in the ice water. Carefully peel away the skin and cut into halves (note: the tomatoes do not have to be peeled.)

Whisk together the vinegar and oil.

Place a tomato half on top of each watermelon cube with the flat side facing up. Poke a bamboo skewer through the top all the way down to secure the 2 items. Line up the skewers on a serving tray.

5 Melon and Prosciutto Salad with Parmigiano-Reggiano Ingredients

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3 cups (1/2-inch) cubed honeydew melon (about 1/2 medium melon) 3 cups (1/2-inch) cubed cantaloupe (about 1 medium melon) 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh mint 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, cut into thin strips 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shaved fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese Cracked black pepper (optional) Mint sprigs (optional)

Directions

Combine first 5 ingredients, tossing gently. Arrange melon mixture on a serving platter. Arrange prosciutto evenly over melon mixture; sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano. Garnish with This recipe was provided by professional cracked black pepper and fresh mint chefs and has been scaled down from sprigs, if desired. a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant.

The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

Drizzle the vinaigrette over the skewered tomato and watermelon. Sprinkle with salt and place a micro basil leaf on top.

Serve.

7

Peach and Brie Quesadillas with Lime-Honey Dipping Sauce Ingredients Sauce:  2 tablespoons honey  2 teaspoons fresh lime juice  1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind Quesadillas:  1 cup thinly sliced peeled firm ripe peaches (about 2 large)  1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives  1 teaspoon brown sugar  3 ounces Brie cheese, thinly sliced  4 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas  Cooking spray  Chive strips (optional) Directions To prepare sauce, combine first 3 ingredients, stirring with a whisk; set aside.

To prepare quesadillas, combine peaches, 1 tablespoon chives, and sugar, tossing gently to coat. Heat a large non-stick skillet over mediumhigh heat. Arrange one-fourth of cheese and one-fourth of peach mixture over half of each tortilla; fold tortillas in half. Coat pan with cooking spray. Place 2 quesadillas in pan; cook 2 minutes on each side or until tortillas are lightly browned and crisp.

Remove from pan; keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining quesadillas.

Cut each quesadilla into 3 wedges; serve with sauce. Garnish with chive strips, if desired.

8 Vietnamese Noodle Rolls Ingredients  3 1/2 ounces thin dried rice noodles (also called rice vermicelli)  1/4 English cucumber, unpeeled  1/2 large carrot, peeled  Ten 8 1/2-in. rice-paper wrappers  5 red lettuce leaves, torn in half crosswise  1/2 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and very thinly sliced lengthwise  30 mint leaves (about 1/4 cup)  40 cilantro leaves (about 1/4 cup)  About 1/2 cup canned frenchfried onions Directions 1. Put noodles in a large bowl and cover with just-boiling water. Let noodles sit until tender, 5 to 8 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, cut cucumber and carrot into 4-in. lengths and then into matchsticks, using a mandoline* or other hand-held slicer, to yield 1/2 cup matchsticks of each (or cut cucumber into

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This course helps you answer the question ‘How good am I to myself’, your values and how to prioritise to create more time and energy. There are no right or wrong answers, so just answer however appropriate for you right now – and see what you learn about yourself!