Brides UK

http://www.bridesmagazine.co.uk

Advice

PHOTOGRAPHS: CHRIS CRAYMER/TRUNK ARCHIVE, I-STOCK, DAVID TITLOW, JODY TODD

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT TWO

MINUTES OF MEDITATIVE

BREATHING EVERY MORNING CAN

HAVE A HAPPYBOOSTING IMPACT

ON YOUR DAY.

Dr Karen Sherman, lead

researcher at the Seattle

Group Health Centre, says:

‘Deep breathing releases

endorphins, the body’s own

painkillers. This can relieve

stress-related aches and

help focus the mind –

particularly useful if you’re

waking up feeling blue and

sluggish.’ So, take a

moment and breathe.

JUST BREATHE...

IT’S FREE!

Chop shop

You spent months growing your

bridal hair and now it’s time

for a makeover! Visit hair website

layeredonline.com for haircut galleries,

advice and salon recommendations.

Embrace carbs

Aer shedding those pre-

wedding pounds, it’s time to

get a little happiness back in

your tummy. Channel your inner Italian

bombshell and cook hearty, sexy dinners

from scratch – we love the fresh and

modern recipes from Bill’s Italian Food by

TV chef Bill Granger (£20, HarperCollins).

Shake shack

Brides reader Louisa Cross, 34,

says: ‘My new husband and I made

a pact on the plane home from

St Lucia to maintain our “happy

honeymoon” ritual: evening

mojitos. We now have a permanent stash

of rum, mint, brown sugar and limes so we

can make them as we get supper ready.’

Digital love

Can we take a moment to worship

Michael Kors’s Spring 2014 nail

lacquers? All six shades (such as

this gorgeous one – Sexy Nail

Lacquer in Scandal, £18, michaelkors.com)

are pure glamour and guaranteed to li

your mood. ey’re an ideal addition to

your post-wedding beauty ritual.

Petal power

Brighten up your desk at work

with feel-good owers, advises

orist Jamie Aston. ‘Seasonal

blooms are best at liing spirits. In the

spring, there is nothing like the scent of

hyacinths, the vibrant colour of daodils or

the peppery fragrance of stocks to perk you

and your surroundings up.’

Spice of life

According to Dr Drew

Ramsey, assistant clinical

professor of psychiatry at

Columbia University, turmeric is a fantastic

source of polyphenols, a natural mood-

boosting and brain-brightening chemical.

Add some to your daily stews, curries and

rice dishes or sprinkle on salads.

Note bene

Clear your mind by clearing

your to-dos, like those pesky

thank-you cards. Make them extra special

by choosing cards by stationers BerinMade

(berinmade.com, pictured) or Connor, New

York’s version of Smythson (selfridges.com).

Berry boost

‘Blackcurrants are rich in zinc,

which boosts dopamine levels

and helps to regulate your mood,’ says

nutritionist Angela Walker. Why not try

Blackcurrant Squash (£2.99, Rocks

Organic at ocado.com) for a quick boost?

Dress stress?

Reader Lucy Nichol, 29, says:

‘I cried every time I looked at

my wedding gown. So I cut o

the hem, kept it, and dyed the

rest red – it’s now the perfect

pick-me-up party dress.’

Ta n g t a s t i c

Orange is said to represent

optimism and we can’t

think of a more smile-inducing accessory

than this Hermès enamel bracelet in the

rm’s signature orange (£470, hermes.com)

• or try a similar bracelet by Anna Lou of
  London (£32, notonthehighstreet.com).

Pause for thought

Denise Knowles, a counsellor for

Relate, says brides can avoid

falling into PND by considering

their motivations on marriage. ‘Some

people get married because they’re in a rut;

others because they want to start a family,’

she says. ‘You need to ask yourself whether

you have a romanticised idea of marriage.’

Have a read of e Relate Guide To Better

Relationships, which has a chapter called

Who Am I Marrying? to help you out of any

of those at moments (£10, Vermilion).

Red alert

‘Red lipstick is a source of

strength,’ says Poppy King, creator

of Lipstick Queen, one of the best

lippy brands we’ve come across.

‘You put it on and suddenly you feel more

capable than you did without it.’ Try her

Velvet Rope Lipstick (£35, spacenk.com)

for vivid reds with a modern, matte nish.

Sunshine

in a bottle

‘Fragrance is one of the best things

you can buy to help make you feel

good,’ says perfume expert Roja

Dove. ‘Each ingredient works on our

subconscious, releasing hormones to help

enhance sensations of pleasure. So when

you’re next shopping for perfume pick:

Citrus to revive, upli, inject life and

boost vitality. Try Neroli Extract, £275,

Roja Parfums at fortnumandmason.com.

Vanilla, an aphrodisiac that enhances

positive sensations. Try Un Bois Vanille,

£69, Serge Lutens at houseoraser.co.uk

Sandalwood, proven in trials to increase

positive feelings. Try Tam Dao, pictured,

£50, Diptyque at johnlewis.com.’

Private party

Stash the virginal white

underwear and helpful Spanx,

and indulge in something

colourful, sexy and utterly

impractical (that you’ll both

appreciate). Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s

Spring 2014 collection for M&S (marksand

spencer.com) is full of gorgeous pieces, as

is L’Agent, a new range at Agent Provocateur

designed by Penelope Cruz and her sister

Monica. Prices start at £24, lagentbyap.com.

City slick

ere’s nothing like a city

mini-break to make you feel

like his goddess again.

Malmaison London has just reopened aer

a multi-million pound refurb, including

a cool bar and steak restaurant, plus

super-sultry bedrooms. A double room

costs from £150, malmaison.com.

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