A Wonderful World

    'MAKE-UP MAGIC MAKING MOVEMENTS' The Make-up industry has continued to flourish over the last year despite the pandemic and lockdown. There’s an extensive range of brands and products on our shelves. With many taking the time to research, experiment and practice with looks, products and application, it’s an industry that’s ever changing and exciting. Social media platforms have been widely used across the nation to review products and share creations over this time, and have certainly allowed those aspiring to enter the make-up industry to keep exploring their passion and pursue their journey. Thousands have turned to Tiktok to share their talents, influencers continue to post on Instagram and share their knowledge and latest favourite brands on YouTube. Along with the make-up hype that originates online, the industry finds itself on our television screens to, with the return of BBC Series ‘Glow Up’. Back for a third series with a new host, Maya Jama replaces Stacey Dooley...

                                                                         THE BEST BROWNIE'S ON THE BLOCK. We all love a brownie. Who doesn't? Especially a homemade one. Even better if it also has our favourite chocolate in the mix.  During the first lockdown it became a common occurrence within households to experiment with baking, particularly banana bread. Conversation grew across social media platforms as many shared their banana bread adventures and documented the finished product before enjoying and tucking into their creation. As a nation, baking has also grown in popularity with shows such as 'The Great British Bake Off' airing, it's helped inspire aspirational bakers to pursue their journey, tempt those who may not have baked much before, and tickle the taste buds of all viewers... ...

                                                            YOUR MIND MATTERS. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, 10th-16th May 2021. What is Mental Health Awareness Week? A national week in the UK to raise awareness of mental health and mental health problems. It's aim is to encourage action and promote the message of caring for and understanding mental health. The event has been organised and hosted by The Mental Health Foundation for the last twenty-one years, an opportunity for people to talk and learn about all aspects of mental health with a focus on providing help and advice. It's important that we continue to raise awareness to ensure we continue to strive to create a society that advocates for mental health. Despite its importance, there is still stigma attached. Mental health is just as essential as physical. It's convers...

EVER THOUGHT ABOUT PILATES? Over the past few decades, Pilates has grown in popularity. A form of exercise that focuses on improving posture, flexibility, strength and rehabilitation post injury. The core is the central focus of all movement. Some forms use mats and others use equipment, including reformer Pilates which provides added resistance. Since it originated, it aims to focus on 6 elements: Concentration, Centring, Control, Breathing, Precision and Flow. It's very similar to Yoga, but traditionally yoga is the practice of connecting the mind and body through breath, whereas Pilates is a system of exercises that emphasise core engagement to promote functional movement of the body. With the rise in conversation and hype around certain fields of exercise across the media and social platforms, there's been an increase in exposure to things like HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and over lockdown, running. Despite the benefits of incorporating these styles of training ...

"OUR BODIES ARE INCREDIBLE, AND THE POWER OF ART MEANS WE CAN CELEBRATE THIS THROUGH A DIFFERENT MEDIUM." With time at home, jobs on the line and a yearning to combat boredom and anxiety throughout Lockdown, many of us have turned to pastimes to keep us entertained and busy. Sophia Gabrielides has done just that and taken a leap by creating her own small business for her paintings.  But these paintings are more than just an opportunity to express and experiment with her love of art, they are empowering and liberating others. Social media continues to have a huge influence in our lives and it can often be the first thing we turn to when filling time. Despite the positives that come out of these platforms including building connections, they can also cause us to dive head first into unnecessary behaviours and thought patterns. Whether it be comparing to others or spending our time looking at others lives rather than living our own, we can find ourselves being overly critical of...