Hello..

Not long after having Beatrice, I started to feel really low. I had a baby, a happy marriage, a business I love, and a nice home, but I still felt like something was missing, which in turn, made me feel guilty. I just couldn’t shake the feeling.

I recently re-connected with a friend, and we spent an hour talking about happiness and spiritual growth. I never took myself as a spiritual person but after leaving, I felt different, I felt lighter. After our coffee I asked her if she would write an article on personal growth, a subject she seems very familiar with, to which she kindly agreed.

One paragraph that really resonated with me is the following;

“We are so weighed down by what we have, by what we are afraid to lose that we cling stubbornly to what we believe identifies us, to what makes us recognisable. The very stuff that is holding us back from becoming.”

You can read Mandy’s full article ‘Space to Grow’ on page 79. Talking of growth, I’ve become quite the keen gardener! Over the summer I’ve grown a plethora of flowers, herbs and fresh tomatoes. I’ve tried and tested one of Christian Gott’s recipes, Sun Blushed Tomatoes, and I can confirm, it’s delicious! His recipes can be found on page 101. Harriet Rouse also shares her tips on how to tidy the autumn garden and prepare for the spring (page 95).

For our cover story this season, Lucy Sanderson interviewed Chantelle Mundy – a 23-year-old inspiration. Not only did she co-found Thrive (a hub for local mental health charities), but she is also working with The Resilience Development Company. She is now aiming to bring the Miss World competition to Jersey. The competition includes the ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ round, which, if won, would help put mental health at the forefront in Jersey.

Our country style editorial was shot by Marc Whitehead in the stunning grounds of Samarès Manor. Our model, Iza, looked stunning in floral dresses, chunky knitwear and plaids (page 56). Other trends in this issue include cardigans, chunky boots, rose print, leather (real and faux) and head to toe beige.

As always, I hope you enjoy reading this issue.