I’m thrilled to be presenting the UK Spotlight show for Hay House Radio,  I’m been a radio presenter for over 20 years and I’m currently a co-host on BBC Radio 2 (the UK’s most listened to radio station)  I’m also  the author of ‘Look Great Naturally without ditching the lipstick’ (Hay House) and I’m passionate about all things holistic, my book covers everything from organic skincare and beauty through to raw food, treatments and therapies and the Law of Attraction - that’s why I’m SO excited about this series of shows as I get to 

interview some fascinating authors on a range of subjects – all linked of course to holistic living, mind body spirit.   I’m sometimes called The Queen of Holistic because I really do encourage people to look at the WHOLE picture,  - (albeit realistically)  My website is imperfectlynatural.com as I am ‘imperfect’ – none of us can get everything right, lets just do the bits we can!

I’m interviewing some wonderful Hay House authors including Martin Shirran the Gastric Mind Band man, Becky Walsh,  teacher in intuition and personal transformation, Brian Bates author of The Way of Wyrd and Blue Marsden author of Soul Plan.   We’ll have lots of time to really find out what they’re about and get some great practical tips and ideas to incorporate into our own lives.

 

I look forward to connecting with you over the coming weeks on Hay House Radio – Loads of interviews and chat – come and join me, and call in! With my experience on both sides of the microphone – both as presenter and author I’ve recently launched a new venture offering coaching and teleseminar masterclass series for holistic therapists, experts, authors, – anyone who has a heart centred business, if you’ve always wanted to write a book (and perhaps get it published by Hay house!!) then I can help you with the planning and the PR / media skills to get your authentic message out there.  Click on the Free Taster link to get your free audio and receive my free ezine.

More info and listen online at http://www.hayhouseradio.com/index.php

‘He knows she’s a chocolate girl, cos he thinks she melts when he touches her’ goes the old song from Deacon Blue (if you’re not an eighties girl, excuse my nostalgia!). It wouldn't sound quite the same if it was ‘Poor quality confectionery girl’ – but that’s exactly what most commercially available chocolate is.

We've all heard that chocolate is good for us, and it most certainly is – in its raw form. The problem isn't the raw cacao, it’s the added sweeteners, fillers, flavourings and preservatives that make what’s normally available a calorie-laden and very unhealthy choice. Luckily, however, I have a fantastic alternative: go back to its natural source and get into raw chocolate.   If you want to use it for cooking, opt for Willies Black Gold.    It’s fantastic for grating onto desserts, in milky drinks and for hot chocolate (sweetened with agave). You can also buy the pure ingredients and raw chocolate making kits.
 
You can get amazing raw chocolate ‘bars’, ice cream and truffles from BoojaBooja, Search the health food stores for raw chocolate flavoured with chilli, coffee, manuka honey and nuts. My favourite is the wondrous flavoured ‘chocolate pie’ from www.rawchocolatepie.co.uk. 

You need only need a tiny amount to feel satisfied, so it’s a real luxury. You can buy raw cacao powder, cacao butter and cacao nibs from www.gojiking.co.uk 

A great read is Naked Chocolate by David Wolfe and Shazzie 

If raw doesn't do it for you, then opt for high percentage cacao chocolate (preferably organic). Divine and Green and Blacks are the market leaders, but there are lots of companies now specializing in great chocolate.

You don’t have to eat it, put it on your skin!

Chocolate Face Mask
– 2 tablespoons raw organic cocoa powder 
– 1 tablespoon honey
– 1 tablespoons yoghurt
– 3 teaspoons fine oatmeal
Blend together the ingredients, apply and leave on for 20 minutes.
If you’d prefer the mask to be moisturising but not ex-foliating, then leave out the oatmeal.
Of course you can increase quantities and add coconut oil for a full body wrap – a fantastic way of having all the benefits of chocolate without any calories!

Adapted from Look Great Naturally without ditching the lipstick
Hay House www.imperfectlynatural.com