Well hello to you my reader chums! Lockdown restrictions are slowly getting eased and things are going back to normal, or the 'new normal' that we're all living in right now. But as things have been going back to normal, I've been reflecting on lockdown, what I've learnt and how appreciative I am of that time. 

Lockdown gave a lot of us a chance to live a slower pace of life, spend time with our families, and appreciate our surroundings. Here are 5 things I've learnt in lockdown:

Appreciating where I live

I've lived on the Kent coast my whole entire life and I'm a beach baby to a tee. Nothing makes me happier than being on the beach, feeling the sand between my toes and hearing the sound of the waves ebb at the shore. I've always realised how lucky I was to be by the sea but with such a busy day to day life, working, running my baking business and trying to keep as social as possible, I didn't really take the time to spend days at the beach or strolling on the sands.

However, in lockdown where the only time we were meant to leave the house was for a walk, I spent a lot of my time outside walking on the beach. There are many different beaches within a 5-10 minute drive from my house and I spend a lot of my time exploring the quieter ones and finding hidden coves on the sands. I found myself falling in love with where I live over and over again. My home will forever be a happy place.

Being busy all the time isn't healthy

Something I didn't do often prior to lockdown was taken the time to relax or live at a slower pace. I was constantly busy working, doing my blog, doing my business, making plans, and really, always doing something. And, I never gave myself the right time to relax or take a step back from a busy life. But I've learnt being in lockdown and on furlough that not being busy all the time is healthy. It's good for my mental health and sanity really to have a little break.

I'm still on furlough at the minute and even though I'm trying to keep busy, I'm also trying to live a bit more intuitively and do with what feels right for my mind. This can be either having a full productive day or lying in and chilling.

Quality time is so important

Being shut in our houses for a few months really made me realise how important it is to keep myself surrounded by people I love. It was the weirdest few months not hanging out with my friends in person or seeing my work colleagues from day to day. I missed that much-needed interaction on a regular basis and when it slowly was allowed to come back, I appreciated it more and more.

Lockdown also gave me the opportunity to spend a lot more time in my house and with my family, which is something I wouldn't have got so much off in 'normal times.'

Spending excess money isn't necessary

Like any other girl my age, I love travelling, I love a day out in London, a trip to the theatre, meals out or a night out. However, something I learnt in lockdown is that even though, they are some of my favourite things to do, they aren't necessary. I was able to have fun with the simpler things; picnics on the beach, garden gatherings and just being with people, or talking over Zoom. It wasn't all about the 'fun activities', it's about who I spent my time with.

That I was one of the lucky ones

I'm fully aware that in lockdown, I was one of the lucky ones and I'm very grateful for that. I was able to move back home with my family in a house with a garden (that came in handy a lot in the first few months of lockdown.) I got furloughed so was able to keep an income during this whole period and I had people around me to keep me company. My heart went out to those who got laid off from their jobs or the many people who got and passed away from the virus. It's such a sad and unfortunate time and I cannot be more grateful for my health, my family and friends.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What did you learn from lockdown?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Considering what's going on in the world at the minute, using hand sanitizer has become an everyday activity. I've always been a bit of a hand sanitizer weirdo, so in a weird way, I'm kind of liking everyone jumping onto the hand gel hype. When FulviSafe got in touch to trial out and review their hand sanitizer range, I jumped at the chance as I'm always keen to see which other ones are available.

What is FulviSafe?

FulviSafe is a hygiene product range designed to cleanse and protect hands from viruses and bacteria and kill 99.9% of germs with no alcohol ingredient. Their products include a hand sanitizer and barrier cream and are safe to use on all the family, even for small children. The main ingredient is Carbohydrate Derived Fulvic Acid and is clinically proven to kill germs effectively as alcohol-based sanitizers.

Hand Sanitizer

Packaging

The hand sanitizer's packaging is simple and the perfect size to take on the go. It has a secure cap that kept leakage to a minimum. There's not much I can really say about the packaging but I love how it's small enough to use in my hand luggage at the airport - and in any small bag.

Scent and texture 

I have to admit, I wasn't the biggest fan of the scent when I first used the sanitizer as it's quite unusual. However, it's a thousand times better than the typical alcohol-based sanitizer scent. It reminds me of quite a musky, wooden scent and is similar to polish. It's a very distinctive scent that after a while, I got immune to.

The texture of the sanitizer is my favourite thing about it. It is a water-like texture in appearance and once applied, feels like a gel-like consistency on the skin. It sinks into the skin super quickly and my hands feel really moisturised and clean after use. I'm in love with how quick it's able to dry and how it also doubles up as feeling like a moisturiser, rather than drying out my hands.

Lasting effects

The hand sanitizer scent lingers on the skin for a while and after it has sunk into the skin, my hands stay soft for a long time. Even when I use it multiple times, my hands still feel incredibly soft as if I've applied lotion, rather than hand gel. 

Comparison to other hand sanitizers

I'm definitely converted to this brand compared to other hand sanitizers. During this time, I've been using a lot of different sanitizers, and often than not, they always leave my hands feeling dry or sticky. However, FulviSafe is nothing like that - it's moisturising, smooth and my hands aren't left feeling uncomfortably sticky (basically a win, win.)

Barrier cream

Scent and texture

I also got gifted the barrier cream to review and honestly, I'm in love with it. It's designed to use as both a hand sanitizer and moisturiser (which is basically my idea of heaven). The scent of the cream is similar to the sanitizer but slightly more toned down and has the same lingering element.

The texture is beautiful. If you think of a dreamy hand lotion texture, this is it. The cream is really soft in texture, blends easily and dries really quickly, which means no stickiness whatsoever. The scent lingers on my hands for ages afterwards and I can't help but think it makes my hands even cleaner. 

Overall thoughts on the cream

The cream is a brilliant asset to your typical hand sanitizer as it's lightweight, quick to use, smells lovely and lasts for ages. 

The FulviSafe hand sanitizer and barrier cream have become my new favourite handbags essentials and it feels good knowing, I'm putting a safe product onto my skin every time I wash my hands. It's easy to use, dries quickly and really effective.

Find more about FulviSafe products here and treat yourself.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have you tried this range?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Affirmations are something I love to practise and one of the things which really helps my self-confidence and mental health. It may be a simple thing to do but the effect of words is a lot more powerful than you think, especially if you say it regularly. If you're having a bad day or need a little boost, here are 5 affirmations that may be able to help.

'I am good enough and I am worthy' - Often or not, my confidence or bad mental health days are due to me feeling not good enough or not worthy enough in many situations. And unfortunately, it's a feeling a lot of us have by comparing ourselves to everyone else. This affirmation will instil the fact that you are good enough, you are worthy of every ounce of love you receive and you're uniquely you.

'I am strong enough to get through this' - You've gotten through tough days before and you can get through them again. You're stronger than you think and any curveball thrown your way can be overcome. Believe in yourself, take it easy and take the time for you. This is an affirmation I use quite a lot when life seems to be impossibly hard.

'Everything is possible' -  Your dreams are never impossible and you can achieve whatever you put your mind to. When life pans out and you see everyone else achieving different things, it can be hard to not compare. However, everything you would like to do with your life is possible whether it's travelling the world, starting a business or being promoted in your job role. 

'You are the reason someone believes in the goodness of people.' - I particularly love this one as it reminds me of the positive impact I've had on my loved ones' lives and the same impact they've had on mine also. Even if today, you feel like the worst person in the world, trust me, there are people around you who adore you for your good heart, happy smile and amazing personality.

'I am a 10/10' - Self-confidence comes from within and believing you're a 10/10 is a huge step in boosting your confidence. Everyone deserves to feel a 10/10 and honestly, they are a 10/10. Repeating this phrase will help the confidence build in your soul until you start to realise how great you really are.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other affirmations do you say?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I have said for a long time and in many blog posts, that I'm trying to make more ethical and sustainable choices in my everyday life. I've come across many products since making that choice and one of them is the Wild refillable deodorant. I was so thankful and excited when I got gifted this deodorant - and I can't wait to share my thoughts with you.

The concept

I've never heard of this kind of deodorant before it landed on my doorstep. Previously, I've seen eco deodorants but nothing like this. Wild is a refillable deodorant. The deodorant comes in the post with a case and the option to refill it with compostable refills.

I love the concept behind it as I'll always have a case to carry around,  there is no waste involved and you can refill the deodorant with a variety of different scents.

Price

With any good quality product, the price is a little more expensive and that goes with Wild, however, it's completely worth it. I have the assurance of knowing I'm putting a natural product on my skin and it's good for the planet. It's not as cheap as your high street deodorant, but worthwhile in the long run for different reasons, and if you like a little splurge, it's the perfect product.

The starter kit is £12 for 1 case, 1 refill, and joining their subscription service. The one off-purchase has a case and 3 refills for £25 or there's the option of 1 case with 5 refills for £35. 

Wild also gave me a code of  'Della10' which will give you 10% off your order.

Packaging

The kit that I received came in a cardboard box which easily slotted into my letterbox and contained the deodorant case and its refill. It's presented in a compact way, and the actual case is super cute. It looks pretty, better than your usual deodorant design, it's the right size to bring on the go but also contains enough product to last a long time.

The scent and texture

Going onto the actual product, I absolutely love it. The deodorant can come in a range of scents and I chose 'Coconut dream.' I'm a big lover of coconut fragrances as it reminds me of a holiday so I thought it was the perfect match. The actual scent is very subtle but has the flavour of coconut running through giving it the apt name. I like that the scent is subtle though because that way I have the assurance of knowing it's a natural product for my skin and is aluminium free.

The texture is different from my usual roll-on deodorant. Unlike usual roll-ons, it's not wet in any way and I don't need to leave time for it to dry. Instead, the texture is wax-like, similar to a solid shampoo which you need to work into the skin, rub it in slightly and allow it to settle in. I like that as again, it feels natural and it's perfect if I'm in a rush as there's no 'waiting for it to dry' timeframe needed. 

Lasting power 

Considering the different texture of the deodorant, I was pretty nervous about how the deodorant would play out in the day, especially with the hot weather we've had lately. However, after trialling it and getting used to the best way to apply it, for instance, I can honestly say it lasts as long as a usual deodorant.

Overall thoughts

Overall, I've fallen in love with the Wild way of life. The product is of great quality, it's natural, eco-friendly and I love the application/lasting power. It may be on the pricier side, however, the quality and overall experience of the product makes up for that.

If you're interested in trialling out Wild deodorant, use my code 'Della10' for 10% off online.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post. Have you tried any exciting eco-friendly products lately?

Thank you for reading <3