June is a very special month for Mark and I as we share our birthdays, one day apart; so this year we’re going to have a bit of a staycation to celebrate together and enjoy time at home and outside. I don’t know what your plans are for this month, but I thought you might like to hear about my love of the beach and the many ways I enjoy it. If you don’t live near the sea, these can work in a park, by a lake, river or on top of a hill, but it’s so important to get out into the countryside, especially if you’re cooped up inside during the day and June is THE month to venture outside especially while the evenings are the longest.

Our favourite time at the beach is late afternoon/early evening so we can take in a sunset as we have our supper. We have a barbecue kit ready to go and keep it in the car boot throughout the summer. This includes a docking station, portable BBQ, chairs, blanket, picnic basket with all the crockery, cutlery, napkins, charcoal & lighter fuel and then all we have to do is grab the food. I also take a couple of spare carrier bags, one for garbage and the other washing up. We usually go for a nice stroll before we eat, people watching and petting other peoples dogs! Once I was out of favour with Mark as I forgot a bottle opener, so I wandered round asking anyone if they could help me; we met a gorgeous Kiwi couple who said “we’ve got a corkscrew but no wine”! So we invited them over and shared a most fabulous time and our wine with them. Another time we were with my Aunt and getting our BBQ ready and there were some lovely lads nearby strumming a guitar and hanging out. We had way too much food so my Aunt asked them if they’d like to share some. They initially declined politely, but we encouraged them and the next thing we knew, they’d joined us and the guitarist wrote us a song about our kindness. They were music students and we had a precious time and memory.

I love to go beach combing. It’s not just shells which are beautiful, when sea glass gets polished by the surf it glistens and the combination of these filled in my trusty jam jars or laid out in pretty low bowls are an alternative to ‘pot pourri’ and remind me I live by the sea. I have the biggest admiration for those that cold water swim and although it’s not for me, to see people venture into the sea even for a few minutes and witness the invigoration and buzz is a joy. Seawater is therapy and even if you can only paddle, the benefits are enormous. Instead of a sea-swim, I love a brisk walk early in the morning as the sun rises and adore the sense of a new day and the energy burst gleaned by a fast pace. Sometimes we just take a flask of coffee and look out to the horizon and somehow, whatever you are facing or dealing with personally, seems to gain perspective when you are somewhere bigger and open.

If you can get to the beach just for a day, it is truly like a mini vacation. Our holidays were in Cromer, Norfolk as children and a beach hut was obligatory, the smell stays with me to this day. You can rent them by the day and it’s like a home from home and causes a bag of chips, ice cream cone or ham sandwich to taste even better! Grab a map, a real map and see where you could visit, maybe a new place you’ve never been before. The salty sea air will flow through you and you certainly sleep better that night.

Whether you venture into your garden, the beach or any other beautiful place outside, don’t forget to apply your essential SPF products. Following the success of Life Defence for face and Lip Defence for lips, we launched last month Body Defence SPF30 and it is literally flying off the shelves and we have a fabulous collection available this month called SUNNY SKIES which gives you all you need in a funky bag. If you need to give yourself a sunny glow, Lovely Day bronzing gel is available for just £17 when you spend £40 and this magical product can be worn on its own or mixed with moisturiser/body lotion.

So, lots to have fun with this month and I close by wishing you wonderful June and lots of love.

Liz xx