Somehow I have a teenager! I seem to have blinked and suddenly she has grown up. It honestly feels like only a few years since I was that age and teenage girls encounter so many problems during the journey from child to young woman; and some of these problems affect physical health.

In addition, the mental health of a teenage girl can be an emotional roller coaster, causing confusion, depression and anger (even without social media pressures)

Essential oils in aromatherapy use can often help to control or eliminate some of the difficulties a teenage girl endures during this period of her life.

Essential Oils for Hormonal Problems in Teenage Girls

Teenage girls have to deal with the onset of menstruation, acne and changing body shape; consequently, the hormones of a teenage girl are often up and down. Hormonal problems in teenage girls can be alleviated by the use of the following essential oils:

• Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) and cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica), particularly for menstruation difficulties
• Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), which can have calming effects
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), which can have calming effects

Essential Oils for Teenage Hair Care

Teenage girls may experience greasy hair, which leads to frequent shampooing. Essential oils can be added to both a shampoo and hair conditioner base to help alleviate some of the problems of teenage hair care for girls; suitable essential oils include:

• Clary sage (Salvia sclarea), which has regenerative properties
• Juniper (Juniperus communis), which is good for greasy hair
• Lemon (Citrus limon), an astringent and anti-bacterial essential oil
• Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata), a hair tonic.

Essential Oils for Skin Care in Teenage Girls

Teenage girls suffer from many skin problems, which in turn leads to stress and anxiety; hormonal problems cause some skin problems in teenage girls, but diet can also play a part too. Teenage acne, cysts and blackheads are common problems of teenage skin; suitable essential oils for treating teenage skin include:

• Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), which is a healing essential oil
• Lemon (citrus limon), which is both an astringent and anti-bacterial essential oil
• Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium var amara), which hasanti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties
• Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica), which is an antiseptic and stimulating essential oil
• Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), which is good for acne.
• Teenage Girls and the Use of Essential Oils for Stress and Depression

Stress and depression can affect teenage girls for a number of reasons; exam worries, hormonal imbalances, a developing body and family difficulties affect many teenage girls. Essential oils which are useful in treating stress and depression in teenage girls include:

• Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) for hormonal imbalances and depression
• Lemon (Citrus limon), which can have calming effects
• Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium var amara), which can have balancing effects
• Clary sage (Salvia sclarea), which can have calming effects
• Basil (Ocimum basilicum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) combined, which may help with exam stress.

Aromatherapy for Teenage Girls

There are many essential oils which can be used to treat the problems of teenage girls; essential oils which possess similar properties as those above can also be used. However, if unfamiliar in the use of essential oils in aromatherapy, consult a qualified and experienced aromatherapist for advice relating to individual circumstances. Essential oils used correctly are a good aid for the problems teenage girls face.

I just need someone else to tell my daughter, as she obviously doesn't think I am cool enough to make recommendations any more!

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Christmas was an expensive time. In fact general life seems to just be getting more and more expensive so finding things where I can save money feels like it has become a quest in my life. 

The endless round of parties.

The need for last minute gifts.

Not to mention the thought of party bags for 20+ children. ( I made the mistake of having 50 children last year - never, ever again).

How can parents make this endless toy buying a little easier on their pockets? Well let me introduce you to PoundToy.com.  We have collaborated with PoundToy as they are one of the UK’s favourite websites where you can purchase high quality, branded character cheap toys & games for children of all ages at prices that cannot be beaten!

Sounds a little too good to be true doesn't it? 

I spent £50 on the site and got all this ......

The name of the website gives a hint to the bargains that can be found and in their clearance section, there are items for 50 pence!!!

Not everything is a pound though. But there are great deals to be had. Want a special anniversary Barbie for less than the RRP? They have an offer on that.

 

Need to save money on a Star Wars Stormtrooper? They have those too! 

I remember many many years ago taking my mum to a Poundshop for the first time and she kept picking up items and declaring that it couldn't all be £1.

Going on PoundToy.com reminded me so much of that day with my mum and although everything ISN'T £1 on their website, there are some great bargains to be found.So if you are savvy saving mum this year, why not bookmark the website for when you need to stock up on those party presents! 

In the meantime, we are delighted to give you the chance to win £25 to spend on PoundToy.com and all you need to do is enter below.

Good luck!

 PoundToy.com £25 voucher

The Prize: £25 to spend at PoundToy.com
The winners will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Gleam and notified within 7 working days by email
There is no monetary equivalent.
Little Lilypad Co take no /responsibility for loss or damage in the despatch of prizes
If the prize is unclaimed within 7 days we reserve the right to redraw the winner.

UK Entrants Only

End Date 24/02/2019 at 12am

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Facebook. 

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We have vowed to be more frugal this year and whilst I am not suggesting my husband buys me a ring from Poundland (as seems to have been advertised everywhere this year), we can still be romantic without the price tag, can't we?

Each year as Valentine's Day approaches there are many among us who begin stressing out over gift giving. A low budget coupled with the desire to show a lover how special they are greatly increases the stress level.

It seems every shop and store we enter has devoted a large portion of the shelf space available to Valentine's Day gifts, candy, and cards. Newspapers are full of advertisements for these gifts and restaurant ads for romantic dinners for two at an unreasonably high price. With a little ingenuity and forethought you can take the stress out of Valentine's Day this year.

The top four gifts expected for Valentine's Day are chocolate, flowers, cards, and jewellry. Whether dating, living together, or married, taking a look at each of these categories can assist in finding a reasonably priced means of showing your love.

Chocolate

Bigger is not always better. While the heart shaped gift boxes of chocolate are lovely to look at, your lover may actually prefer a smaller box. Even if your lover is not allergic physically to chocolate their hips and waistline are. Many of us are tired of the rich desserts offered through the recent holidays and are dieting with thoughts of summer vacation and activities ahead. Opt for a small box and let your lover know while you wanted to give the largest box available you did not want to destroy their diet. Your thoughtfulness will be deeply appreciated.

If you have extremely limited or no funds to purchase traditionally packaged delights, try making your lover homemade treats. If your lover prefers another dessert over chocolate, why not see if you can make it yourself for a really personal touch. 

Flowers

A florist's largest season is Valentine's Day and the cost of roses can be triple the normal asking price. A less expensive alternative is carnations or a mixed bouquet of flowers. It is thrilling to have flowers delivered to the workplace and it elicits ooh's and ahh's from co-workers. If your schedule permits, instead of paying a florist's delivery fee arrive fifteen minutes prior to your partners lunch break with a single rose or carnation and an invitation to lunch. It will not matter how inexpensive the lunch is, your thoughtfulness and presence will make your loved ones day.

Cards

Card shops, department stores, and grocery stores all charge a seemingly unreasonable price for a card. Part of me balks at the cost of cards and then how we recycle them only days later but I do love receiving them. They don't need to be expensive, even hand made but making sure you write heartfelt words inside is the key to the perfect card!

Jewellry

Most newspapers are packed with jewellry store and department store advertisements for jewelry, the cost of which can be frightening if you are working with a low budget. While diamonds are the number one gemstone sold through Valentine's Day, no one said it has to be a diamond or has to be heart shaped. There are many lovely gemstones to choose from and many affordable pieces without gemstones that will be just as highly prized by the recipient.

An alternative to shopping at local jewellry or department stores are those shows on television that sell nothing but jewellry at wholesale prices. Beautiful and affordable jewelry can be found through these shows or their on-line websites twenty four hours a day. 

If you are a teenager or non-working young adult with little or no funds and no credit cards, you might try offering to do extra work for your parents in exchange for ordering an item for you. Most parents will agree to this and be grateful to gain help in cleaning out garages or attics and similar jobs.

Stuffed Animals

Places like the Card Factory and the pound shops are great places to find Valentine themed stuffed animals at great bargains. Most females love stuffed animals but obviously do not give stuffed animals to a lover with an allergy to dust.

Gift Baskets

An alternative to the traditional Valentine's Day gifts is to make a basket for your loved one which holds some of their favorite small items. You can make your own confetti to line the basket with the household paper shredder. Perhaps the man in your life is an avid fisherman or hunter. Perhaps the lady in your life loves hot teas or specialty coffees. A gift basket's contents is limited only by your imagination.

Dinner For Two

Instead of an over priced meal for two in a restaurant, opt for a home cooked meal or take out. It is the atmosphere that counts the most. Dim the lights, turn the music on low, and light the candles. Purchase two roses, one for the table for your lover and the other to sprinkle the rose petals around the table. Bonus points here if you can actually cook!

The Gift Of Time

If you have children offer to clear your schedule to provide your other half with a day to themselves. A gift certificate for a free day can be made on the computer and enclosed in a card and will be a huge hit with a busy parent. Coordinate the date and arrangements with your partner according to whether they would like to spend the day at home alone to relax or a day out of the house.  

Regardless of what you decide to bestow upon your loved one for Valentine's Day, remember if they truly love you the cost of the gift is irrelevant. It really is the kindness and thought that went into the gift that counts.

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Happy New Year, guys! Ish. We’re three weeks in, I know. But perhaps if I keep wishing everyone well, I’ll eventually feel the fresh buzz of the new year for myself.

I’m not sure why I’m feeling a little dragged down by 2019, but I can’t seem to step into the swing of things. I’ve loved having Christmas off with the girls. Frankly, I didn’t want them to go back to school nor me back to work. Rather than starting a fresh and feeling as though I’ve got a whole year of opportunities ahead, I’m hanging on to December’s festive vibes. Reminiscing.

Take me back!

But, all this will never do! I’m absolutely positive that I’m not alone in feeling a little demotivated during January. I know it. After all, the ‘January Blues’ is a thing. How is it, at a time when so many of us are prone to feeling glum, the other half of us are motivated to hit the gym, quit the drink, or eat clean?

I’m not committing to finding some ‘supreme level’ of myself in 2019, and I’m not signing up to any half-hearted resolutions, but I have had a think about my levels of motivation and how I can rediscover my mojo.

Perhaps we all need to invest in a little love for ourselves. Some self-soothing wouldn’t go amiss, I reckon.

I don’t know about you, but I’m much more content when I’m clam, relaxed and have simple things to look forward to. I’m motivated to get through the day and meet my deadlines, when I’ve something cheery to turn to in the evening.

After pondering it over, I’ve decided that they key to giving myself a 2019 kick-start, is simply being and enjoying my days. Letting the pressures of work and school be what they are and focussing on the things I enjoy and the people I love.

While I’d love to, this doesn’t mean booking loads of breaks abroad or splurging out on a new wardrobe.

Rather, I’m going to put time aside to watch a series with my husband, download a film to watch with the girls or do some mindfulness colouring.

I’m going to run a lavender bath and put my head back, let my hair become damp, and feel any worries wash away.

I’m going to creep into bed at 8:30pm with a cup of tea and read three chapters of a paperback, before effortlessly falling to sleep.

In 2019, I’m going to endeavour to take a step back, be mindful, and not become caught up in the fast-paced madness of the modern world.

Now, hit me up with some tips in the comments below. How do you like to relax?

 

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