Watch Janey on TV making DIY skincare

Check out Vanessa Feltz show monday 21st Feb. I'm the 'kitchen guest' but no cooking no sir...in fact not even any raw food...(although I think the lovely Vanessa will be digging into the choccy) I'm gonna introduce her to the whole concept of skincare and beauty without chemicals and indeed rustling up easy peasy DIY skincare, raw choccy face masks et al !
See you there
Vanessa Feltz show Channel 5 11am

Want natural alternatives ? The re-birth of Janeyleegrace.com

Hurrah ! Our new look re-freshed website is up and rocking ! Hope you recieved the latest ezine flagging up our wondrous new competitions, you could win a pampering day out for two at Champneys, a full organic hair make over with Tabitha James Kraan, Karen Knowlers latest raw food book and lots more.

Come on down and check out the brilliant articles on everything from Natural Tips for Avoiding Cancer, Easy Breastfeeding, Anti-ageing Naturally, Toxic Dentistry, Juicing, Raw Food, yummy vegetarian recipes, Choosing supplements, Natural Sun Protection, How to protect yourself from radiation from mobile phones and much much more. Check out the Janey Loves section where I direct you straight to the companies whose products and services I love. We've got a new look store too, hopefully much easier to navigate your way around and special offers on the mobile phone protective 'sock', and various other goodies, also a discount on some yummy raw biscuits.

In addition to my facebook 'fan' page we also have a very succesful free forum with some wonderful like-minded people who really know their stuff so if you're not already a member it would be great to have you there.

I'm already inundated with requests for my 'free report' - bear with me while I wade through the backlog of stuff that went on hold while the site went live !

By the way it looks like my first Feel Good Friday event will be near Berkhamsted Herts, April 15th - reserve the date and more info coming soon...

Only a few days till we relaunch....

Bear with us - is it me or is technology unbelievably frustrating ! Our new look refreshed janeyleegrace.com website is in the wings but with technical problems, in fairness I don't even know what questions to ask, but save to say they tell me it will be ok ! Twill be worth it, we have a spanking new branding, a new Janey Loves directory and a couple of wonderful competitions to launch including a chance to win a pampering day at a spa and a total organic hair makeover.....
coming soon....honest !

The Natural alternative to new years resolutions

Transferring stuff into my new diary I came across my new years resolutions list from a couple of years back.

• Resolve to join a gym.... (I’d ticked that one off but actually going to the gym proved slightly more difficult to do)

• Give up coffee.... (That one lasted a day or so till I remembered that my gym did really good cappuccinos with organic milk)

• Decorate the whole house with eco paints... .(Incredibly moving into a new house gave me the opportunity to do that, but sadly the felt pen the kids have written across the walls with certainly isn’t organic.)

• Plan menus and set up online shopping.... (that lasted exactly 4 days, I ran out of most essential ingredients for the planned meals and the online shop proved disastrous.)

The start of a new year brings a new chapter, a time to reflect and plan ahead but somehow our new year’s resolutions lists are often just another way of setting ourselves up for failure and beating ourselves up for all the stuff we haven’t done that we feel we should have. Thank goodness I work under the brand-name ‘imperfectly natural’ If I’d left out that all important ‘im’ I’d be lynched by yoghurt knitting earth mothers who spot me having that quick glass of non organic wine, or eco warriors sifting through my bin bags to make sure I’ve re-cycled properly.

It’s the small steps that count though isn’t it, ‘small change big difference and all that’

So this year I’ve decided to ditch the list of resolutions, it’s great to set goals but to ‘resolve’ to do, or worse still to NOT do something is usually fraught with problems, The chances are you’re feeling frazzled and your resolutions will be something you feel to OUGHT to do rather than really want to. There’s also no real motivation or commitment to do what you simply feel you ought and so you fall at the first hurdle, look how many people resolve to diet, or give up drinking or smoking then come down with a bang as soon as the stresses of the new year kick on back to work day.

Telling ourselves determinedly that we’re going to ‘change our ways’ or do something differently can only work if our subconscious minds (our inner self) also believes it.

In an enlightened moment one cold wintry day, between Winnie the Pooh DVD's and bathing down my kids itchy skin with porridge oats (they got an inconvenient bout of chicken pox) I was feeling ridiculously stressed that I ought be working, cleaning the house, earning money - but suddenly I realised that the richest and most content people of all are those who accept themselves just as they are. Yes they strive to reach their goals but life is not a struggle for them and they’re capable of enjoying the moment, I remembered that line from a poem…..’I’m cuddling my baby and babies don’t keep’…..and realised there’s nothing more precious than being ‘present’, spending time with your loved ones in sickness and in health, somehow life does go on whatever the current stresses and no one is indispensable. I vowed then that my only new years resolution for the following year would be to lower my expectations and stop chasing my tail.
That’s not to say I don’t want to be happy though, deliriously so, indeed I think that’s the most important resolve but it’s the definition of happiness thats all important.

The kingdom of Bhutan has recently been hailed as a role model for legislating that happiness had to be considered when making policies. Politicians are being encouraged to consider Gross National Happiness (GNH) as well as Gross Domestic Product – (GDP) President Sarkozy of France praised this view and commissioned a report to examine how France measures indicators such as health family and leisure time.
Lisa Grainger in The Times newspaper 2.1.2010 said - ‘Starting to rationalise our world in terms of smiles not pounds seem well overdue’ I agree wholeheartedly, happiness, laughter and wellbeing are indeed more important than pounds and dollars.

I’m reminded of a wonderful yoga teacher who reminds himself to smile a lot in order to ‘practice contentment,’

But aside from forcing a Cheshire cat grin onto my rather harassed face what can I do? Well I kicked off the new year with a Nia class – Nia is a dynamic mix of yoga, martial arts, and different styles of dance. You work barefoot to music and work at your own level of intensity. It’s exhilarating and fun!
After our warm-up our inspirational teacher suggested we step sideways and leave behind all that we want to let go of from the last year and at the end of the class we step forward into whatever we want to embrace for the new year ahead.

I have so many hopes and goals and wishes that I wanted to try and simplify my long list. Finally I decided to focus on releasing stress – I’ve had far too much of it during the last year and allowed it to affect my health and wellbeing but in the process of writing my new book and interviewing all manner of experts on conscious living, I’ve come to realise that we aren’t born with stress, its a learned concept and as such it can be ‘unlearned’ So I stepped sideways and let go of the years debilitating stress.
I wondered what I could choose to embrace for the coming year and again my list went on for ever, I decided simply to step forward into Joy – I figure if I focus on joy everything else will fall into place.
It seems like a good plan, so I’ll be the one grinning wildly even in the face of adversity – smiling uses a different set of muscles and increases happy hormones, talking of using my muscles I intend to dig out the rebounder from under the pile of kids toys, I’ve been telling everyone about the benefits of rebounding but forgotten to practice myself ! I do remember however, that its the best full body workout aside from swimming and best of all its fun, its impossible not to smile while you’re bouncing – just ask Tigger from Winnie the Pooh !

Gratitude is pretty important too, I’m going to count my blessings and remember how lucky I am. I‘ve read the books that suggest I keep a ‘gratitude journal’ well basically any old notebook, but its important to keep it by your bedside and before you go to sleep jot down at least three things that you’re thankful for, its a lovely exercise for children too. I also intend to set up a Vision Board, - a noticeboard or even a piece of card with ideas, pics, and photos stuck to it, I’m going to find some images that represent what I want for the coming year and manifest them ! Bring on the recipes for raw chocolate truffles!

Its not all about me though, studies show that true happiness comes from giving rather than taking. As Wayne Dyer says in The Power of Intention ‘Purpose is not about vocation – its about service’ Giving to others, whether it be a random act of kindness to a stranger, a smile, a gift, or time spent with a lonely relative, helping or giving to others is said to increase feelings of happiness and wellbeing quicker than any materialistic retail therapy might. For most of us even if we gave away ten per cent of our wealth we’d still be amongst the richest 5 per cent of the world.

So that’s sorted then, if you should come across me frowning and bemoaning my lot I hereby give you full permission to reprimand me and remind me of my intent.

Hopefully (albeit imperfectly) I might succeed.
I wish for us all a happy stress-free joyful 2011

Janey loves...The Enchanted Christmas House

One bit of me wants to run screaming for the hills but I do have four kids and the little ones are still enchanted and so bring on The Enchanted Christmas House. We've already done the Lapland UK experience (and its wonderful, totally magical, snowy and properly freezing with some fab ice skating thrown in and real husky dogs to pat) so hubby was not looking forward to another afternoon of elves and small children. He suggested he took a newspaper and sit in a nearby cafe while I endured 'the hell'. He needn't have worried, within seconds of arriving at The London Art House in Islington we were greeted with mulled wine, mince pies and decent coffee while the kids ran agog into the winter wonderland, a veritable treasure trove of activities. The 7 year old quickly dressed up as buzz Lightyear while the 5 year old girl had a quick turn at karaoke before doing a quick drum session, then we all watched a show with the very professional theatrical elves before being sectioned into two groups for our next activities - where kids decorate ginger bread men or christmas baubles, various characters appear for amusement ( we particularly liked the person dressed as a christmas cracker) and the refreshments are available throughout. We had our own short and sweet audience with santa who had a very shiny beard and gave the kids a decent gift. (won't tell !)
After some more theatrical entertainment by the elves at al it was time for the kids dinner, fairly basic pasta with tomato sauce but lots of yummy cakes for after.

All in all a fantastic few hours, get in quick, there are 3 slots a day and its worth it just to experience the incredible venue, (you will need a small child as an excuse though and I recommend no kids over 8/9 - its really aimed at the younger ones) but I guarantee you'll be planning your next birthday, anniversary whatever in that gorgeous space, if so please invite me I want to go back !
www.theenchantedhouse.net

Janey Lee Grace hosts Green Awards

The 5th annual Green Awards was a spectacular occasion held at the Natural History museum and I was thrilled to be asked to co-host with Wayne Hemingway MBE (yes of top designer Red or Dead and much more - fame).

There were shortlisted entries from companies from all over the world including china and the highlight was the lifetime acheivement award which was given to Sir David Attenborough CBE - what an inspiring speech ! We also heard from Chris Huhne MP and Sir Paul Judge, not a judge (even of the Green Awards) but the president of the chartered institute of marketing.

Twas a fab dinner with organic wine and chocs and at the end I was presented with not your usual bouquet, indeedy this was a wondrous art statement, a bunch of 'fake' flowers fashioned from newspaper and card - sounds awful - looks gorgeous !

Check out the 'dinosaur in the room' he was very well behaved over dinner !

Ragdale Hall health hydro and thermal Spa

Feeling stressed and exhausted I'd slogged up the M1 so when I arrived at Ragdale Hall and Spa a shadow of my former self, I was relieved to find the staff at this family run business are incredibly freindly and helpful, nothing was too much trouble from parking my car after unloading to carrying my bags to the room, most of the staff have a midlands accent which is music to the ears of a Nottinghamshire gal !. My girlfreind Dawn was equally shattered and trust me it was gonna take one fantastic place to revitalise us !

Fortunately Ragdale Hall and Spa offers the most innovative and up to date menu of treatments and classes anywhere and even though this was a one night Reviver Break only, we managed to squeeze in a fair bit in a 24 hour period.

The decor is beautiful and they're in the process of refurbishing all the bedrooms, ours was already done and its a lovely mix of chintzy comfortable bedroom and lounge and high tech pristine white bathroom with two washbasins. I had a 50 minute body massage which was wonderful, my therapist Carla really seemed to tune into my stressed out body and know exactly how much pressure to apply, it was totally relaxing in a treatment room decorated like a morrocan bodoir, I was covered with thick dark blankets and the low light was softened by the orange glow of a himalayan salt lamp. Dawn had the rare treat of a 'Lomi Lomi' massage and was impressed with the holistic energy work of the practitioner.

The classes were great, I managed an introduction to Hula hooping (where for the first time the technique was fully explained) and a Jazzercise class where I was transported back to the 1980's dancing a routine to Fame !

The real deal at Ragdale Hall is the Spa, if the word spa makes you think of a jacuzzi and a noisy echo-ing swimming pool, think again, this is a little oasis in the midlands, centreparks it is not ! There is a functional swimming pool for aqua aerobics and water based activities but walk through the glass doors to the side you leave your shoes behind, grab a fluffy towel and enter what feels like another world, the pool is huge with a massive rock waterfall and just the perfect temperature but when you're done swimming, head into the Thermal Spa for a real treat, you can swim outside into a heated (yes imagine the bills !) mineral pool, just press a button discreetly hidden in the rock and water cascades over you. Back inside theres a series of mini spas saunas and steam rooms - but no ordinary ones, these are a whole collection of sensory experiences, the sauna is Rose infused and another is a Scented room, one steam room offers a Vocanic Rock salt treatment and when you're feeling totally refreshed theres a Thought room, gently heated where you can simply rest and reflect on the water feature in the centre

My favourite though, by far was the Candlelit Pool, this is a beautiful tunnel like pool where the carved alcoves in the rock hold candles and coloured lights, soft music is piped and there are individual 'seats' where you can lie back and relax. Pure unadulterated luxury.

Talking relaxation when you're all dried off and just fancy some silence to read or think, theres a beautiful sunny room called The Retreat, the decor is Laura Ashley meets New England beach house and there are hammocks, chez lounge and even a wooden bed to relax on.

With approx 170 guests at any one time you'd expect the food to be simple fayre but not so, the menus are quite fancy with my evening dinner choice being leek mushroom and tomato Quinoa bake and Dawn's being slow cooked english lamb with fruit nut and citrus couscous, my only criticism is the portion sizes, Dawn's portion was enough to feed a family of four, while the breakfast which is room service only, the portions were tiny, I must confess when I ordered Atholl Broth - toasted oats yoghurt, raspberries and honey I was expecting slightly more than a small ramekin dish.

There are packages and breaks to suit everyone here and I highly recommend it, treat yourself - you won't be dissapointed and your stressed tired body will reward you with more energy
www.ragdalehall.co.uk