Itadakimasu

Whenever I hear mention of the brand Spudulike (admittedly not that frequently, it seems to have faded into obscurity) a memory of a Victoria Wood sketch stirs in the windmills of mind.  In said sketch she has a sudden pronunciation crisis:

‘Is that how you say it?  Maybe it’s spu-doo-licky!‘

It is for this reason that I often refer to potatoes as spudoolickies.  This year I have grown my own, which I started to harvest this week, and I was overjoyed to find the following joyous specimen amongst the crop:



The type of Spud I Like. James Wong may be able to "grow his own drugs" but I can grow my own potato ducks.  I shall add that to my list of X-Man powers ; )

I have such a grasshopper brain, leaping from one thought to another, I was reminded of another word where I falter over the correct pronunciation " Itadakimasu "  Bless you, did somebody sneeze? Well actually, it a Japanese expression, roughly translating as "I gratefully receive this".

Gratitude is one of the most powerful ingredients in any skin care routine.  So when you reach for your Smoothing Cleanser and heavenly soft bamboo cloth, breathe in the refreshing Eucalyptus scent and take a few moments to appreciate the natural ingredients, the love and care with which the products are made, and to say "thank you, thank you" (I tried to say Itadikimasu but nearly swallowed the bamboo cloth, hopefully one day someone will tell me how to say this properly!).

“ The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.”
―   Audrey Hepburn.

Days like this revisited (@tropicgrump)

Magneto is a particularly stupid name for an X-Man if you ask me (nobody did). It sounds like a type of ice cream, and even those strange amoeba shaped lollies, with an equally bizarre advertising campaign ("Funny Feet") are not that scary.  However, if the Marvel casting director were in town I would be a shoe-in for the role. Ok, not on Hollywood scale. Mudangneto perhaps: the girl with the ability to take out small electrical items: 1 toaster, 2 mobile phones, 2 lawn mowers, 1 vacuum cleaner and 2 juicers (oh yes, the shiny replacement juicer spluttered its death throes of bright green spinach across my kitchen this morning).  It is late, blisteringly hot and I'm considering using my powers to frazzle a Karaoke machine; thus ending a "singing" session currently in full swing in my neighbourhood: Cheer up Sleepy Jean, Hey Jude, Tainted Love, I Will Survive (not if I have anything to do with it you won't.)...will they please start a rendition of The Time Of My Life, which normally signals an end to proceedings!

At this rate I will have to change my name to @tropicgrump.  Urgent action is required, this time in the form of  Body Love Butter Cream. Fear not, as tempting as it seems, I am not going to lob jars into the midnight air with the hope of directing a hit on the Abba wannabe who has just struck up a second verse of Dancing Queen.

Body Love Butter Cream is the very first product developed by Susan Ma.  Just the scent is enough to transport my mind to a much calmer place.  I shall forget thoughts of Funny Feet, letting them become Happy Feet as I massage the cream in relaxing circle motions. Obviously happy as in contented, not hairy and penguin like (the other type of Happy Feet)

Water (aqua), Golden Jojoba Oil (simmondsia chinensis seed oil), Macadamia Nut Oil (macadamia ternifolia seed oil) Shea Butter (butyrospermum parkii), Cocoa Butter (theobroma cacao butter), Coconut Butter (Cocos nucifera butter) Natural Vitamin E (tocopherol) Coconut Emulsifier(cetearyl alcohol), Cassava Emulsifier (cetearyl glucoside),Glycerin (glycerin), Candelilla Wax(euphorbia cerifera), Corn Sugar Gum(xantham gum), Organic Hibiscus Extract(hibiscus rosa-sinensis extract), Sea Kelp (lactobacillus/kelp ferment filtrate),Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil(backhousia citriodora oil), Bergamot Essential Oil(citrus aurantium bergamia oil), Neroli Essential Oil (citrus aurantium oil),Lime Essential Oil (citrus aurantifolia oil), Gentle Preservatives(phenoxyethanol & ethylhexyglycerin)

Describing the scent of a product is incredibly tricky without referencing other scents e.g. it has the gloriously uplifting aroma of fresh limes.   This product makes me think of Sweet Peas. Sweet Peas!?! Perhaps I have been huffing too many paint fumes as I redecorate my bathroom? Sweet Peas are hardly the same as Lemon Mrytle, Neroli and Bergamot; more English Country Garden than Tropical Paradise. No, not the smell itself, but that magic feeling, that intoxicating, just picked vibrant joy of a vase of freshly harvested flowers.  I shall try to convey photographically...pure sunshine to the soul..

Body Love Butter Cream is the perfect gift for your inner grump - who couldn't break into a smile with such silky soft perfection?  It is also a wonderful gift for a loved one.  I absolutely adore the luxury body oils, but the cream is an instant pick me up with no need to desolidify (is that even a word?), just unscrew the jar and you are good to go.   It is currently available in both 200ml (£20.00) and 100ml (£15.00).  Personally, I would like a mini travel pot (25ml) to have in my bag for emergencies - open and pour, I'm Tropic Bunny Once more!

For Days Like This

When Van Morrison sang about "Days Like This" he was recalling those occasions when all the parts of the puzzle "start to look like they fit"; not a day full of rude people, dirty puddles, cold callers and junk mail.  The type of day when you realise you have been walking about with a ginormous blackberry smoothie moustache, your jumper on inside out and a random piece of toast tangled in your hair (useful for an interesting afternoon snack, but not so helpful when you are trying to give the impression of competent professional..."oh please offer me the job, I have other talents, apart from looking like an extra from The Twits, I can touch typo at terrific speed.").

When grey clouds appear in my day, I remind myself that there are always people worse off, which makes recall the following line from Fawlty Towers:

Mr. O'Reilly: Just remember Mr. Fawlty, there's always someone worse off than yourself
Basil: Is there? Well I'd like to meet him. I could do with a laugh.

If seeds of frustration look like they might start to germinate within (frustration seeds if left unchecked result in rather ugly plants, with very bitter fruit), I remember the words of another "cheerful" soul:

"It is so easy to laugh, it is so easy to hate, it takes strength to be gentle and kind" - Morrissey*

*Note: to self: Listening to Morrissey will not enhance my mood; put the Smiths album down and walk away! Pick up a bottle of love, instead, in the form of Tropic Organic Luxury Oil.  It is perfect for the end of a not so perfect day.
There are two gorgeous scents to choose from
1) Uplifting Lime, Bergamot and Neroli

Organic Coconut Oil (cocos nucifera oil), Organic Rosehip Oil (rose canina fruit oil), Organic Jojoba Oil (simmondsia chinensis seed oil) Organic Macadamia Oil (macadamia ternifolia seed oil), Natural Vitamin E (tocopherol) EcoCert natural essential oil blend(tocopherol), Lime Essential Oil (citrus aurantium oil),Neroli Essential Oil (citrus aurantifolia oil), Bergamot Essential Oil (citrus aurantifolia oil)

2)  Exotic and floral, White Frangipani and Magnolia

Organic Coconut Oil (cocos nucifera oil), Organic Rosehip Oil (rose canina fruit oil), Organic Jojoba Oil (simmondsia chinensis seed oil) Organic Macadamia Oil (macadamia ternifolia seed oil), Natural Vitamin E (tocopherol) EcoCert natural essential oil blend(tocopherol), Magnoila Essential Oil (citrus aurantium oil),White Frangipani Essential Oil (citrus aurantifolia oil)

The most important thing to know about these oils, is that they solidify at cooler temperatures. Luckily, we have had such an extremely warm summer this has not been a problem......hmmmm I should cocoa!!  In absence of blazing sunshine (although never good to expose essential oils to direct sunlight anyway) simply place the bottle in a bowl of warm water to return it to a silky liquid.

An equally important thing to know is to use the oils sparingly. They retail at £25.00 per 100ml, but a little goes a very long way.  They can be used as an indulgent bath oil; please take care when getting out of the bath whenever you use any oil products, otherwise, just when you think it is safe to step out of the water, wham the bad day will come back with a vengeance!

The oils are also fantastic as an all over body moisturiser, a deep conditioning hair treatment (again, if Grease is not the word that you want to hear, use sparingly!) or to condition nails and cuticles. 

My favourite use is as a massage oil, even better to share with someone else. I can't think of a nicer present to be honest - the power of touch is in itself amazing, but combined with such beautiful oils it is just pure magic.  Magic enough to make me forget a bad day....what bad day?