Five great things about Hat Attic and why you should shop there!

I started Hat Attic with a particular purpose in mind, to fill your world with beauty and make you smile. Here are a few other good reasons for you to love it.

1. There is a great mix of fashion accessories ie.jewellery, cashmere and silk scarves, leather bags and purses, toxin free nail polish, hair accessories and quirky gifts ie.collectable dolls, sushi socks!, books and baby bits and of course beautiful hats!
2. You don’t have to leave the house or run up and down the high street (only to find exactly the same things in every store).
3. Some of the things are exclusive and you will not find them on the high street. eg. Mint polish, Blackbird Secret dolls.
4. Delivery is cheap and quick, in most cases 1-2 days (UK). Designer hats being the exception, they are made specially for you so we need at least two weeks.
5. We can ship all over the world!

Test me out, start shopping now.

Stop life and shop!

I have been asked to write about what I do if I have a block or a lull in my business.It’s quite simple I go shopping, quite literally!
Any shop whether physical or on line needs to keep it’s customer interested. In an actual store you re-merchandise, move the stock around with the view that people see things in a different light, see things that perhaps they hadn’t noticed before. On line it is similar in the fact that you have to change the visuals and message of your home page, maybe a seasonal or weather purpose, or an event or holiday, Mothers Day or Halloween. Or sometimes I have to literally drop in a new collection, to add a new dimension.
My most recent new pieces have been some wonderful paper panama trilbies and fedoras in classic colours and a stunning summer blue, the colour of the ocean. This was in conjunction with the heatwave and my Know your UVB’s from your UVA’s blog. Which is an information piece about summer protection essentials like sun cream, sunglasses and sunhats.

We are in the process of completely re-designing www.hatattic.com  with a fantastic photoshoot that we did with my incredibly creative photographer friend Mark Basten.

So in conclusion you need to put us in your address book and check in to see what we are up to, it will be all sparkly and new any day/week/month now!

Know your UVB’s from your UVA’s.

A minefield of a conversation I know but I’m going to try and get it down to the basics so that I can be assured that you are safe.
Lets begin with the science bit :
UVA -Long wave rays that damage the skin more deeply and cause damage to the cells in the basal (bottom layer or base) of the epidermis, contributing to skin cancer.
It is the predominant tanning ray.
A tan is the result, over time, of injury to the skins DNA.

UVB – Short wave rays that are the chief cause of reddening and burning of the surface.
They damage the more superfical layers of the skin.
They play a key role in the development of skin cancer.

SUNSCREEN

Everyone should be wearing sunscreen daily, whether it appears to be sunny or not.
A moisturiser with added SPF factor is a good idea. You do not need a sunscreen of over SPF 30 as this will block up to 97% of UVB (this is the highest protection a ‘natural’ not chemically populated sunscreen can give), but whatever your SPF you still need to take care of those UVAs.
To combat those you must wear good sunglasses and a sunhat.

A SUNHAT, WHY????

Apart from the fact that I recommend a hat of some sort whatever and where ever!
A good sunhat will help to :
keep those UVAs at bay.
Added protection for your neck,ears and eyes.
Stops your hair from fading (if like me you have coloured hair) or drying out.
Alongside the sunglasses, stop you from squinting, so helps to prevent wrinkles!

When you are choosing your hat please consider that it is fit for purpose, the hat you wear lounging around the pool is not necessarily the same as the one you would wear on an activity holiday! Please make sure it fits, everything swells with the heat and

perspiration and if your hat is too tight you will have headaches which could lead to fainting! The hats I have on Hat Attic are adjustable fit but I would always err on the too big side, you can always pinch it a bit smaller (I will tell you how another time!). And always go for good ventilation ie. natural, breathable fabrics, like straw, paper straw or cotton.

I always wear a sunhat, ever since I burnt my scalp very badly and was left having to wear my hair in pigtails for two weeks, after my holiday, due to it being too painful to move, comb or touch my head! This happened on the last day of my holiday whilst waiting for the airport transfer.

Learn from my mistakes and make sure you are armed with SPF, good sunglasses (if the lenses make everything a colour that it is not, they are no good!) and a great sunhat. Have a safe and happy summer! x

It’s the final countdown.

This weekend started with me checking my emails and posting my ‘case study’ blog. Then after cooking breakfast (and washing up) it was off to the park for a Summer hat photo shoot.Luckily there were no showers but plenty of sitting around waiting for the sun to blaze through the big black clouds. We set up using a fallen huge branch as a prop and snapped like crazy when the bursts of beautiful light came through, in between chasing the hats across the cricket pitch as they got whipped up in the wind!. I then ended up actually modelling them (definitely not my idea) for a bit for a couple of lifestyle rather than product shoots. Then home for editing (G  did that as he is my art director), whilst I wrote the content copy for Hat Attic.

This is all in preparation for a blog and newsletter I am publishing about UVA’s,UVB’s and sun protection, in order to educate and ultimately sell these fabulous inexpensive, very hip and cool hats.

Sunday morning (the morning after the night before!) is being spent (after the cooking and washing) finishing the new pages, updating the home page, scheduling the blog and setting up the newsletter for Monday morning.

All before I go and visit my friend who has just been diagnosed with Cancer.

This last bit puts everything into perspective doesn’t it?

I know we have to make a living so we spend most of our time fretting, stressing and rushing over ‘work’, making endless plans and lists to ensure it all goes smoothly and gets done, when really we need to take a little bit more time to think about our (and others) general health. When we are in the throes of working life we do not consider what the actually rushing and stressing is doing to our bodies let alone the pollutants that we consume, are doing to our systems.

I am not just talking about the pollutants in the air, I mean the stuff we ingest through food, medication and what we put on our skin. Being mindful and attempting to somehow reduce our stress levels is a key factor but so is what is going into your system via our skin and mouths.

Think about this as you zoom past grabbing a chocolate muffin on the way to your next power meeting!

What do you mean you can see my scalp?

It is one of the most debilitating, self esteem shaking, scary things that can happen to a woman. It’s clipping the wings of a beautiful peacock or shaving a Crufts winning red setter. What am I talking about?? Being a woman and losing your hair, that’s what.

There are many different reasons that this may happen to you and most are not obvious.
Chemotherapy, the most common question asked by women is not about the drugs but ‘will I loose my hair?’.
Aging, it is widely believed that we all start losing our hair as we get older, but this could be as a result of many things like hormonal changes. Loss of estrogen leaves DHT, the testosterone derived hormone that produces hair growth, uncontrolled and therefore an imbalance occurs. The androgens (male hormones) get the edge.
It could be any number of physical or mental illnesses, stress, anxiety and depression, hypothyroidism, an autoimmune disease (Alopecia or Lupus).
It could be the medications you take or the contraceptives you use.
Maybe it is a family pattern or even the natural structure of your hair shafts & follicles or even excessive styling, whatever it is it is, it is soul destroying.
Make sure that the first thing you do when you notice it is to go to your GP and get some blood tests done, just incase it is an illness that needs treating, when you’ve ruled out these things you can stop stressing and find a treatment that works for you.

It was my then boyfriend that uttered those words to me (must be eight years ago) ‘I can really see your scalp’, needless to say he is now an ex! I had left my marriage and was being bullied by the MD at work, so to say I was a bit stressed would be an understatement. I was crestfallen, I had always been known for my perfect, shiny, well looked after barnet.
I went to my GP and asked lots of questions, not to be given many answers I have to admit. My contraceptive pill was changed and blood tests taken, coming back with no evidence to any kind of illness. So I went on a mission to cure my increasing shiny scalp. I tried every pill, lotion & potion available, I spent a small fortune, I had to I was going bald!
My prayers we finally answered about a year ago when I started using Arbonne. The magic combination of FC5 shampoo & conditioner and a once a week scalp revitalising treatment, to make sure I wasn’t dreaming I got my Aunt (who had Chemotherapy fifteen years ago) to try it too. We both had new hair, little fluffy baby hairs on the hairline and padding out the scalp! Even my Mum, who has over the years over processed her hair so to speak (bleaching, backcombing, bad hairspray, heat), uses it all of the time and her hair is the best condition it has ever been in and so full she doesn’t need to backcomb anymore!
The products are clean and pure, no nasty chemicals and the scalp treatment has peppermint and horsetail extract that tingles and revitalises your scalp and hair follicles.
I also got my hairdresser to put really choppy layers into my bob, which gives the illusion of fuller hair but regular cutting also encourages the growth of the new hair. I also find that colouring (lighter that your own shade is best) helps too. I do not put lots of chemical laden creams, mousses, gels etc in my hair (it only weighs it down to be honest) I give a quick spritz of Colorlast serum after drying and maybe Colourlast hairspray (which smells deliciously fruity) and go.
My hair will never be the same as it was when I had an inch and a half thick plait running down my back but it is full, shiny and healthy again, and that is my hair not my scalp!
And even if I’m having a bad hair day, yes we all still have them, I can use it as a great excuse to wear a fabulous hat!

It’s good to be a lemon in the morning.

Have I mentioned I’m going back to full time employment next week?

As a run up to that momentous event I’m going crazy trying to organise all of my blogs, newsletters, social media posts etc for Hat Attic and plan menus (we are fussy, clean eaters) and sort out running a home! This is where I thank goodness I do not have children.

I thought I’d share with you the one part of my life I have off pat already, my morning routine.

I wake up at 7am, when G gets up for work and as we live in a bedsit I stay in bed (don’t want to get in the way) and I do my meditation which involves my gratitude list (literally a list of all of the things, events, people I am grateful for), positive affirmations and my to do list for the day.

Then I have a big mug of fresh lemon and ginger in hot water. This is one of the best treats you can give yourself as apart from the fact that it is a great internal cleanser, it’s great for digestion, the immune system, hydration and energy, skin rejuvenation and weight loss, to name but a few reasons, the antitoxidants not only combat anti-aging but help reduce the risk of many types of cancer.

Then it’s time for a bit of a stretch (planks and bridges), I do a lot of walking so it’s just basic exercise at this point.

Followed by my breakfast of protein shake and vitamins, shower, face, clothes ( sorted out the night before), TA DAH! ready to face the day!

How to take off nineteen years.

According to the Wiifit I am 26 years old and a friend I haven’t seen for 25 years tells me I haven’t changed a bit, so how have I done it, I hear you ask? After the last few years of drama and depression it’s a mystery.

Just over a year ago I was introduced, by my chiropractioner, to a fantastic clean, pure, botanical company called Arbonne.

Like most people I was skeptical at first, until I did some research and tested the products myself. My Mums’ breast cancer made me realise that there has to be a connection with what we ingest, whether orally or topically, and cancer. So the fact that all of Arbonnes products are botanically based with no nasties like parabens or man made fragrance, really appealed to me. Have you thought about the fact that whatever you put on your skin, shower gel, body lotion even shampoo gets into your system, into your blood, and if it’s not pure and natural it can be doing all sorts of harm internally.

Parabens, that’s been a buzz word for a while now, did you know they are a mineral oil, a derivative of petrol! Most cosmetics and beauty products use parabens for bulking up, then they add some chemical perfume and then you put this petrol and chemical mix on your face!

I decided to become an Independent Consultant for Arbonne, ie. I sell their products but it is my own part of the business, to sell in my way for my reasons. I sell it because I love the purity and green philosophy and I know that it is not harming me, my friends & family or the planet. Also I love the fact that it works, it actually does what it says on the bottle!

I have tried and tested most of the products in the catalogue, I can’t sell them if I don’t have personal experience. My favourite is the RE9 anti-aging skincare range, apart from the fact that it does anti-age you it smells beautiful and makes you feel good, so you do have a natural glow. My Mum tells me she ‘can’t live without it’ and her skin has never felt so good or got so many compliments, my Mum is 70.

If you want full, bouncing, shiny hair I recommend the FC5  shampoo and conditioner and the thermal fusion scalp revitaliser (once a week), this combination has helped me with the battle against badly thinning hair (depression, candida dysbiosis), and an aunt with post chemotherapy regrowth.

A  friend who has been plagued with nasty psoriasis, has this summer been able to wear short sleeved tops and skirts for the first time in years. She has used a combination of the baby ABC body wash, with the ABC body lotion mixed with a couple of drops of FC5 oil, twice a day. She had tried everything off the shelves and prescribed but nothing was able to help.

And another friend, who is a model and beauty queen, swears by the protein shakes to give her the kick she needs during the day and to help her loose a centimeter here and there. She loves the flavour & texture and the fact that they (you have two during the day) keep her full until her proper nutritional dinner.

These are just a few of the successes I have had with Arbonne and I would love to hear your experiences too.

It is ever so simple, log on to : http://leciafinch.arbonne.com/ and treat yourself to something that is doing us all good, especially you. There are many benefits to joining as a Preferred client, 20% discount and lots of other offers and deals but you can also become a Consultant like me and run your own business, earn a bit of extra cash (who doesn’t need that?) and feel the content knowing you are helping to save the planet and the people that live on it.

Feel like a bit of old rope?

I know when I do, it’s time to get back on track with Amelia Freer.

The news yesterday was that we all have to half our sugar intake, well I am definitely one of those that needs to stop it altogether!  I suffer from Candida Dysbiosis, a leaky gut caused by the overgrowth of yeast spores that leech and live on the yeast created by sugar and white carbohydrates. Causing, among other debilitating symptoms. extreme tiredness and fatigue, digestive issues, lack of concentration, poor memory, lack of focus and brain fog, skin issues, mood swings, anxiety & depression, headaches, sore throats and infections.

Now whilst I know this, I also have the terrible fate of being a total ice cream addict. A carton of Ben & Jerrys only lasts about half an hour in my hands, four almond magnums? don’t mind if I do, then I have to go out and hide the package evidence in a nearby bin so that my other half doesn’t know. Confessing this to you helps, but I need to have a serious word with my willpower. This has gone beyond just being about, gluttony or emotional eating it’s about my general health, ‘I must not feed the spores they make me really ill.’

So, on waking up feeling mega c**p again this morning I decided that today was the day, I put this to bed. Lets face it when I go back to full time work on the 28th I’m not going to have the time to pop to the shops and eat nonsense. The plan is to force myself to eat salad during the day and when I get home it will be too late to mess about so, steamed vegetables.

Today is mostly about liquids of water and the green tea variety, with eggs and smoked salmon (good protein) for breakfast and a prawn and mango stir fry for dinner ( yes @FreerNutrition, the one you made on @itv_this Morning).

I’m busy planning all of my blogs, newsletters, posts and content for the re-launch of new look Hat Attic so I might as well add in planning menus and shopping lists for the big return, I’m not going to have time for messing about!

I have got my vitamins  lined up to top up my energy levels and keep me tip top, I need to make sure I do the rest right and practice what I preach!

I can’t be  Wonder Woman if I feel like a bit of old rope can I?

The penny has dropped!

It’s only taken 45 years 9 months!

When I was five I wanted to be a fashion designer, twelve, a textile designer, at nineteen I had to go into what I knew, fashion shop manager. So you can see I have always been a dedicated follower of fashion in one way or another.

From managing a shop in the Fulham Road, being an assistant manager of a very fancy designer shop in Knightsbridge and a concession manager in a department store I made it into said department stores buying office. I was to spend the next seventeen years dedicating my life to learning, striving and battling bullying to climb the career ladder, I was going to get my buyership even if it killed me, and it damned near did!

The MD that was bullying me died and suddenly it was all change, in with the new out with the old. Suddenly we started seeing members of our beloved ‘family’ disappearing, my turn came suddenly in October 2013, just after my 44th birthday.

I was thrown into major depression, anxiety and panic attacks, nervous breakdown country.

In the last year and nine months with very close monitoring by my brilliant GP (when I actually can get an appointment), C.B.T , my amazing counsellor and my love of reading and learning, I have managed to pull myself out of the abyss and make the improvements I feel comfortable with.

I have decided that I don’t have to meet other peoples approval by dressing, acting and being a certain way, I wear what I like, because it suits me, it’s my look. I have always refused to be anybody’s little ‘fashionista’ but even more so now, I don’t have that sort of precious attitude. I love my family, friends and the planet we all live on, I want to live as cleanly and quietly as possible, that includes my diet, skincare and all other products that I need to use. I prefer to use alternative or holistic medicines as far as I can (I find diet has a lot to do with that) and most unlike anyone in my ‘sector’ I do not want to be seen as judgmental. I have never been a materialistic sort of girl, despite my job, so to go to work and not have major responsibilities and just be able to bring in enough to pay the rent and put food on the table is enough for me. My fabulous website, that has been created purely to help people (like me now!) who have no spare time to be messing about looking all over town for that perfect gift or classic accessory, will provide me with a bit of extra, to be able to treat myself now and then.

The penny has dropped, I am now my own woman, who is practicing emotional detachment, mindful meditations, eating and living cleanly. I am happy, healthy and looking forward to living my carefree, comfortable life in my way with my nearest and dearest.

Diamonds are a girls best friend.

Last night, despite the fact that I felt really stressed and uncomfortable with my back pain (that’s another story altogether) I went to see Mr Neil Diamond (otherwise known as my Dad!). As I’ve have mentioned before I do have periods of depression and anxiety and have to do a lot of work, practicing mindfulness, detachment and meditation daily. I have always loved music and it is key part of my practice, I love going to concerts and clubs and just losing myself in it.

Neil Diamond was on fire last night, I have seen him several times over the years and can honestly say I have never been disappointed, he is the best showman ever. Last night this unstoppable 74 year old sang for two hours and fifteen minutes, non stop, literally the soundtrack of my life. I made two new friends Stuart and Laura from Chester and despite our various injuries, we danced ourselves silly, relaxed and had a ball.

My point in this is, that whilst we spend the bulk of our working years striving for perfection and battling to the top rung of the career ladder, many of us forget to relax and actually enjoy the life we have been given to live. I have, as you know been there and done that and learnt a very hard lesson when it was all taken away. I have learnt and more importantly decided, in the last year and ten months, that I am now going to live and enjoy my life. I don’t need the responsibility, stress and ‘glamour’ of being at the top, I want to sleep at night. I don’t want my anxiety levels going through the top of my head, I don’t want panic attacks, I don’t want to be crying with fear and frustration, working myself into an early grave for other people who just sit back and expect it, then can wipe you out over night.

Here is my plan:

I go to work, do my thing, put money in the till, I come home.

I then work, for myself, on my own business Hat Attic where I know I am providing a service, making life easier, saving time and energy for others looking for beautiful, exclusive goodies for themselves and others.

I spend time with my friends and family, I go out dancing, go to exhibitions, the theatre, cinema, everything and anything I want to do.

I get to sleep soundly, carry on learning to cook, study my nutrition and skincare and so much more.

And most importantly get to dance and sing around my flat to Neil Diamond with a happy heart.