Parents are notoriously tricky to buy for when it comes to finding the ideal gift. They either have everything they need already, or they tell you not to buy them anything at all. However, there are ways to find the perfect present for your mom and dad – something they will love and that they will cherish. Read on for some helpful ideas. 

Something For The Memories
​ As we get older, we can sometimes forget that our parents are getting older too. Those precious memories of your childhood can be a gorgeous gift for them, showing them that you appreciate everything they did for you. You might choose to make a collage of photos and frame it, or perhaps a photo book that they can browse whenever they feel nostalgic. Leave some space in the back of the book for new memories; they’re so important. Or perhaps you’d rather get them a special ornament such as keepsake angels that they can have on their mantlepiece as a lovely reminder of you and your time together. 
 
Something To Help
​An excellent way to come up with something just right for your parents is to think about what it is that they need a little help with. Are they becoming unsteady on their feet but love to go for long rambling walks in the countryside? Then what about a walking stick to help them along? Or do they love to read, but their eyes aren’t what they used to be? Then you might want to consider getting them a beautiful reading lamp, or even an eReader which means you don’t need a light at all. Look around their home and observe them as they go about their day-to-day business – you’ll soon come up with some great ideas. 
 
Something To Eat Or Drink
Food and drink is a wonderful gift, and for parents, it’s an excellent idea. You could make up a hamper of all their favorite things and present it decoratively. Ideas of what to include are chocolate, cakes, jams and chutneys, cheese, wine, beer, spirits (opting for their favorite tipple), and crackers, or an entire afternoon tea. If you’re short on time but still love the idea of a hamper, there are plenty of companies online who will make one for you – some are pre-made, and others are bespoke to your specifications. 
 
Something To Look Forward To
For the parents who have everything, whose home is already full of things and who don’t need any help with anything, giving them something that they can look forward to such as upcoming concert tickets or a voucher they can use to book a special, memorable experience will make their day. Not only will they be able to enjoy the build-up to the event itself, but if you pick the right artist or attraction, they’ll have fun on the day too.  
 
Something For The Yard
​While it’s true that your parents’ home might be exactly as they want it so they genuinely don’t want or need anything else, but what about their backyard? Could that do with a few items to make it look even better than it already does? There are so many new gardening gadgets on the market that even the least green-fingered among us will be able to find some pleasure in the great outdoors. If all else fails, a comfortable deck chair or hammock and a stack of paperbacks might just do the trick. 

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People assume that fruit is great for you and you can eat as much as you want, but it’s not as simple as that. It’s true that fruit is packed full of important nutrients and you should eat it on a regular basis, but there are other things to consider. 

If you want to eat a more sustainable diet, for example, you should think about where your fruit comes from and how it is grown. However, the main thing you need to worry about when eating fruit is the sugar content. Although the sugars are natural and not as unhealthy as processed sugar, too much sugar of any kind is bad for you. People often cut back on fruit if they are trying to stick to a low-sugar diet but that means they’re missing out on all of the fiber and nutrients. The best way to keep a balanced diet is to eat plenty of fruit but choose low-sugar options. These are the best low-sugar fruits to add to your diet.

Strawberries

Confidence spreads quickly. It is a quality that all leaders share, and it is critical for your life and professional well-being. Confidence is often difficult to achieve, and when you are dealing with self-doubt, it can feel like an uphill struggle, but it can be done. You must first learn to love and accept yourself, and only then will you be able to move forward. 
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Here, we look at some of the things that you can do to give yourself a boost of confidence so that you can really live and love your life

Have a look at your wardrobe 
Fashion is a means of expressing oneself. We would all be much more satisfied with who we are and how we reflect ourselves if we express our real selves and our individuality. It may seem superficial to be pleased with one's appearance, but it is an important aspect of self-love and confidence.  If your current wardrobe is not working for you, it may as well be working against you, warranting a drastic wardrobe change.

Make sure that the clothes that you choose to wear make you feel good. They need to physically comfortable - not too tight, not digging in anywhere, not riding up or sliding down so you are always self-conscious. It does not matter what size or shape you are; if something feels good to you, wear it!

Pamper yourself
Sometimes, a pamper session - whether that is a long hot bath, a mani or pedicure, a haircut or the All on 4 Treatment process for your teeth - can leave you looking great on the outside, but more importantly feeling good on the inside. Do not forget to look after your mental wellbeing too - a spot of meditation, mindful journaling and doing something that you love leaves you feeling relaxed and happy - and that is one of the best confidence boosters there is. 

You can also look at incorporating a healthy beauty and skincare routine. Good habits are always the way to go, from your diet to your makeup routine. If you wash and moisturise your face twice a day and use medications to treat any acne or other skin conditions you might have, you can enhance your natural beauty rather than just covering it up with makeup. Changing your diet will also help you lose weight, clear up your skin, and improve your overall health.
Aim to learn something new every dayEvery day, we can indulge in a very powerful and inspiring activity: education.  You can either read to enhance your communication and knowledge or enrol in classes to improve your social skills and understanding.  You can either go out into the world and learn for yourself, or you can watch a documentary after work in bed. Either way, learning something new every day can be incredibly empowering. Challenging your brain daily is also a great way to keep it active and engaged for any and every situation. 

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to gaining confidence. In reality, the only thing that matters is that you believe you are deserving of being the self-assured, self-reliant person you envision yourself to be.

I can’t tell you how grateful I am for each and every one of my followers. I genuinely feel like I have community of likeminded individuals the share with and learn from.

One of the things that became abundantly clear to me this year is that the most important things you can have (aside from a loving family) is a home that you truly love and feel comfortable and safe in. 
With many of life's distractions taken away - travel, the freedom to visit friends and family, social gatherings and even shopping... which I hasten to add is my ultimate downtime hobby.  Our homes are now more than ever before  the centre of everything!

One of the things that has helped me personally to get through this very strange and unpredictable year has been self care and investing in my wellbeing both physically and mentally. This has meant lots of long walks... in the lockdown months that permitted and lots of home spas and pamper days. 

Sundays were made for luxuriation and indulgence with the one you love (that can and should be yourself) and if there is another you love... well that's just the icing on the cake isn't it! 
Speaking of cake, the Hub's and I spend this Sunday doing all of the relaxing things we love. Gardening, sunbathing and eating cake. 

I realised that I haven't shared any of our guest rooms on my blog and what good a time as any to share them than while we are in lock down and I have some time to photograph them! ​