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Julie Leonard Life Coach

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Get Organised for Autumn -Goodbye Summer Wardrobe

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I am just back from my summer holidays and emptying my suitcase. I’m sorting through my clothes and deciding what I can put away until next year and what I may still need. And with the unpredictable weather this week, I’m  thinking about organising some Autumn clothes just in case.

September is the perfect time to go through your wardrobe, declutter and get it organised for the season ahead. Over the next few weeks, I’d love to share with you my tips for getting organised.

So, this week let’s start with sorting your summer wardrobe.

Summer Wardrobe

I am just back from my summer holidays and emptying my suitcase. I’m sorting through my clothes and deciding what I can put away until next year and what I may still need. And with the unpredictable weather this week, I’m  thinking about organising some Autumn clothes just in case.

September is the perfect time to go through your wardrobe, declutter and get it organised for the season ahead. Over the next few weeks, I’d love to share with you my tips for getting organised.

So, this week let’s start with sorting your summer wardrobe

#1 Clear Space In Your wardrobe
Do you have summer clothes that you didn’t wear this Summer at all? Are there any clothes you don’t love how they look on you or how they make you feel? Did you buy new clothes to replace old ones? Then now is the time to go through all of your summer clothes and be ruthless. Do you love it? Do you feel fabulous wearing it? If not, donate or sell them. Get rid of the clothes your aren’t wearing.

#2 Repair
Go through your clothes that you wish to keep. Do any need laundered, dry cleaned or repaired? Do that now before you pack them away so that they are in tip top condition when the weather warms up next year.

#3 Pack Away Your Beachwear
I treated myself to a few new bikini’s this holiday but I’m not going to need them until next summer. I have a swimsuit for the swimming pool so the rest can be packed away. Along with flip flops, beach cover-ups and shorts.

#4 Vacuum Pack Your Dresses And T-Shirts
I love vacuum bags for storing clothes and keeping them clean and fresh. Invest in a couple and keep all your clothes neat and tidy in one place. And it will be easy to find all your summer stuff next year.

#5 Clean And Pack Away Sandals
Clean and repair your summer shoes and sandals and put away in shoe dust bags. Take care of your footwear to enjoy wearing them for many years to come.

More decluttering tips on getting ready for autumn in this article.

We Are What We Eat – Nutritional Advice

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As an Aromatherapist, I feel strongly about using natural products on my skin. But it also matters to me what I put into my body too.

As you know, I believe self care is essential both as a busy mum and an entrepreneur. And during summer feels like a good time to practice self care. It is easier to be outdoors, to eat fresh food and to exercise. This month I made time for two spa days and a massage that left me feeling relaxed, healthy and focussed. And by making time for self care I not only feel the benefit but so do those around me. I am a better mum, partner, daughter, friend and colleague.

Nutritional Advice

Also over the past couple of months I have been taking my self care further by working with the fantastic and extremely knowledgable Nutritionist Monika Bock http://www.nourish-alo.com/. I have always thought of myself as a healthy eater, especially coming from the west of Scotland! However, after pregnancy I had gained a little more weight and developed and addiction to sugar that I had never had before. And I was also feeling that I was lacking in energy which in turn was increasing my desire for sugar.

I can’t recommend Monika highly enough. Our sessions were relaxed, professional and thorough. I felt completely trusting of her and felt no judgement from her. Only support and encouragement. It was really great to have time to sit down and talk about how I feel and take a closer look at what I am eating and how I would like to eat. After our initial session, I felt so hopeful and excited.

Monika followed up with a report, meal plan and recipes which made implementing the changes so easy. After one month I had lost some weight but most of all I had curbed my sugar dependency. And I definitely feel that I have more energy.

I am now motivated to eat more healthily and can’t wait for my next appointment. If it is something that is of interest for you then checkout her link.

What can you prioritise for your own self care this Summer?

Turn Heads With these Best Summer Scents

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Best Summer Scents

I am delighted to be a guest writer for City Starlings this month. In my article, I share my ideas for summer scents.

If you haven’t already heard of them, then please take some time to check out their beautiful site which brings Munich alive through the voices of those of us who live here.

Here are the Best Summer Scents for me

To learn about The Best Summer Scents, check out my full article here.

Create a Natural First Aid Kit for Summer

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Summer is here! And along with sunshine, longer days and more energy come insects, heat and pollen. Essential oils are wonderful natural healers and I’d love to share with you what’s in my Natural Summer First Aid Kit.

Natural First Aid Kit for Summer

Here in Munich, a regular question is how to repel ticks. We want to enjoy being outdoors but I know many of you moms are worried about ticks and Lyme Disease. From all my research, the best oil is Rose Geranium (specifically Pelargonium Capitatum x Radens). It has to be this particular one and not the common Rose Geranium (Pelargonium Graveolens). It’s not readily available here but I have sourced some from the US (feel free to contact me to buy some). Placing 1 drop on your wrists and ankles will repel the ticks. On babies and young children, please dilute in a carrier oil first (1 drop per 10mls sweet almond oil). You can even put a drop on your dog too!

If like me you attract mosquitos then the essential oils of  Lemon Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lavender, Thyme and Citronella are excellent not just against mosquitos but most other insects too. Citronella is a cheap and effective insect repellent. Add some to an oil burner to keep those insects away. Also Lemon Eucalyptus has been proven to be effective too and is recommended by The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a natural bio-pesticide repellent.

Natural First Aid Kit for Summer

But if you do get some bites and stings apply Lavender or Tea Tree to reduce pain, swelling and redness. These are the only 2 that you can apply directly to the bite or sting.

From February until September I really suffer badly from hayfever. Eucalyptus, Chamomile and  Lemon essential oils used in a  dry inhalation, massage or nose balm will help ease your suffering. My symptoms are greatly reduced by using my Hayfever Balm.

And it’s easy to get too much sun sometimes. I use Lavender and Chamomile essential oils to soothe any hot skin or sunburn. Add a few drops of both to some fragrance free lotion (15 drops in total to 50mls lotion) and apply. It instantly calms and smells beautiful.

Natural First Aid Kit for Summer

Lavender, Tea tree, Chamomile, Citronella, Rose Geranium, Eucalyptus and Lemon Eucalyptus

And finally, please remember that some essential oils are photosensitive so don’t apply them before sunbathing. Avoid Bergamot, citrus oils: Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, etc and  Verbena.

It’s so easy to create your own natural summer first aid kit. Or I’d be most happy to make one for you. I never go on holiday without mine! Have a wonderful  summer!

This article originally featured in the Munich Über Moms July 17 newsletter.

Natural Insect Repellent – Eco Friendly Living

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With our summer holidays coming up soon, I have been looking into making my own natural insect repellent. There are some essential oils that are proven to be effective against bugs and bites.

Natural Insect Repellent

Unfortunately, mosquitos love the taste of me and therefore I want an effective repellent so that I don’t end up with large itchy bites that spoil my enjoyment of the sunshine.  I will be diffusing Citronella essential oil to keep the insects away as well as mixing it with Lemon Eucalyptus to make a natural bug spray. If you don’t have either of those, Lavender and Tea Tree are also good insect repellents.

I have also been sourcing from the US a particular essential oil – Rose Geranium (Pelargonium Capitatum x Radens) known to be an effective tick repellent. Not only are ticks hard to remove they also carry Lyme disease. 1 drop on your ankles and wrists will keep them away. You can order yours here.

And finally, I will be packing my Lavender and Tea Tree oils just in case I do need to treat any bites.

Goal Setting – A Goal Without A Plan Is Just A Wish

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Five years ago this month I met my partner at a wedding in Romania. I was living in Scotland and he was living in Munich. A year and a half later I moved to my new life in Munich. I had never lived anywhere else. In the first year I was here, I studied German, created a social network, got my Diploma in Coaching, launched my business and was pregnant with our son. Everything I had wanted. When I went back home to Scotland for a visit at Christmas at the end of the year, people told me over and over again how lucky I was. But really, it wasn’t luck, it was having clear goals and an action plan.

How many times have you made New Year resolutions only for them to not come to fruition?  Without a clear goal or a specific plan they remain just wishes.

Goal Setting

I’d love to share with you my techniques for goal setting and making things happen in my new workshop.

Turn Your Dreams Into Reality

• Want to find out how to set and achieve your goals?
• Want to know how to make them a happen?
• Want time and space to sit down and focus on what you want?

Then join me for my Goal Setting Workshop.

In this 2 hour course we will mainly be working on setting goals but we will also cover:
• Blocks to Goal Setting
• My Top 3 Tips for Successful Goal Setting
• Creating a Positive Mindset
• Balancing Your Wheel of Life – It’s colouring Time!
• My Key Questions to Unlock the Answers
• Ready, Steady, Goal!

When: Saturday 24th June 2017 10am-12pm
Where: Westend English, Heimeranstr 62
Cost: 25 euros

Places Limited to 12 women.

Book now easily via Paypal: PayPal.Me/potentia

How Bragging About Yourself Can Boost Your Confidence!

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Most of us don’t like to talk about how great we are, even less so if we are feeling low on confidence. So, have you ever thought of making a brag book to help you boost your Confidence!?

I am a very visual person so I like the idea of something I can look at and touch and its a self-confidence tool I often suggest to my clients.

Boost Your Confidence - brag Book

Originally used as a way to create a portfolio to take to job interviews, you can now also use the idea to create a book where you can collect all the amazing things about you. It’s a wonderful way to gather together achievements, successes, awards and things people have said to you all in one place.

It’s simple and easy to do and very effective:

  • Find yourself a nice notebook or folder
  • Think about the achievements, big and small, in your life
  • Print off emails of nice things people have said to you
  • Put in letters, postcards or notes that say something special about you
  • Write in compliments people have given you
  • Add anything else you fancy

The Brag Book works in two ways. Firstly, the process of collecting all of these nice things about you will help boost your confidence. And secondly, whenever you are feeling low in confidence you have your visual brag book to look at and remind you of how great you are!

I find my brag book helps me stay confident and positive both personally and professionally and its a lot of fun to do. Plus, its nice to spend some time being creative.

So why not give it a go!

10 Tips That Will Improve Your Relationship With Your Mother-In-Law

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As a Life Coach, my clients regularly raise issues about their Mother-In-Law, seeking ways to deal with a difficult relationship.

No matter what state your relationship with your Mother-In-Law is in, it is important to make an effort to improve it. She is very important to your partner and therefore needs to be to you as well. And when there is family harmony there will be long term benefits.

Improve Your Relationship With Your Mother-In-Law:

TEN TIPS THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW

1.Set boundaries. No screen time? No sweets before meals? Want only healthy meals for your child? Agree with your partner and be united about what is ok and what isn’t. And stick to them.

2.Be a team. Talk to your partner and agree on what is right for you both. Don’t keep putting him in the middle and making him choose between you and his mother. Or put him in the impossible situation of trying to please you both.

3.Separate the issue from the person. Be clear on what exactly it is that is bothering you and separate that from your Mother-In-Law. Eg is how she talks to you disrespectful? Is she not giving you your place in your home? Is her advice unwanted? Focus on the behaviour and not the person.

4.Remember your childhood. This one helped me a lot with my relationship with my Mother-in-Law. I loved being at my grandparents – we got to eat food we didn’t get at home, watch tv we weren’t allowed to watch, got presents and pocket money and stayed up past our bed time. It was so much fun. Pick your battles, stick to the important boundaries but let go of the rest and let her spoil your kids a bit. That’s what grandparents do.

5.Put yourself in her shoes. Take time to understand her. Learn about her culture, her societies norms and values, her upbringing, her current situation and see her for the individual she is.

6.Focus on the positives. On call babysitter. Great cook. Kids adore her. She raised the person you fell in love with………

7.Be mindful. Stay calm and focussed by being more in the moment and not ruminating over things that are bothering you.

8.Accept her love language. You want her to watch the kids for an hour. She wants to clean your apartment. You can’t make her who you want her to be. Accept how she shows love and how she wants to help you.

9.Breathe! When you need to, take a moment and breathe.

10.Be kind. Be mature, treat her the way you wish to be treated and be nice. Even if it means biting your tongue sometimes!

And finally, just because you fell in love with your partner doesn’t automatically mean you will love all of his family too. Remember that this is your home and your family and you can set the rules and the boundaries whilst being respectful and kind.

This article originally appeared in the May edition of the Über Moms Munich Newsletter.

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