A Recipe for Love: Outside and Active Style

^{List of Ingredients:}

^{10 Breaths Of Fresh Air: Give your immune system some love: it loves being outside in the fresh air. Research suggests that breathing in the airborne chemicals that are released by plants called phytoncides help us fight off infections and diseases.}

^{Buy 5 Large Flowers: Buy yourself some flowers and enjoy the scent: this is your aromatherapy hit mother nature style. We all love the smell after it rains, the first smell of a new day, freshly cut grass, an open fire, Christmas trees or a field of flowers. The smells help us feel content, happy and relaxed. Smells are an underestimated power that can remind us to take a step back and slow down.}

^{Add 1 Secret Hideaway: Pick something you have never stayed in before and make it happen. I guarantee you will LOVE doing the research! The UK is full of amazing places to stay.}

^{Find somewhere fun to stay, what about?}

• ^{Kooky: Helicopter, light ship, old horsebox, hobbit hole or light house}

• ^{Wonderful: Castle, bothie, yurt, scout hut, shepherd hut, boat or treehouse}

• ^{Bizarre: London Routemaster bus, railway carriage, gypsy caravan, pods or tree tent}

^{Read 100 Pages: Reread your favourite book, in your favourite spot with a coffee in your favourite cup. A chance to wind down and keep it simple. Give yourself some space to breathe!}

_{Walk 20 Minutes: in a wood and be a better you: Who knew that by getting outside could make you a better YOU! Psychologists suggest that exposure to nature helps us deal with the pressure of day to day life and tap into a calmer space within ourselves, allowing us to engage with the simpler things in life. Mother nature has her own ways to provide natural stress relief, lift your spirits and help tackle depression. Nature is a place to switch off, download, heal and unwind which helps reduce stress and in turn can have a positive effective on our mental and physical health.}

_{Find 5 Reasons To Be Grateful: Counting our blessings is a way to reflect and practice a positive mindset. It can remind us to embrace the important things like family, friends, kindness and connecting with a wider community.}

_{4 Whoops Of Joy: Jump on a bike and enjoy the feeling of letting go and whizzing down the road. I have just been to the New Forest with my Mum who is nearly 80, she had an electric bike and loved the freedom. That feeling will never change however old you are!}

_{Find 2 Beautiful Sunrises: Find somewhere to feast your eyes, find a banquet of colour to feed your soul. Look for fields in bloom, a quiet park, a blue horizon, a cherry blossom, an empty beach, a mountain top or a misty morning. Beauty can spark creativity and soothe our busy minds.}

_{Bake 10 Cupcakes: I am going to leave you with my favourite ingredient! Go out today and practice random acts of kindness (RAOK). The planning, execution and afterglow of a ROAK is worth its weight in gold and can even be a little addictive! Here are 3 to get you going: bake 10 cupcakes and delivery them with a secret note to your friends and neighbours, leave a book on a park bench with a positive message inside. Buy a coffee and pay it forward!}

                      _{Mix these all together and leave to marinate 24 hours - A feeling of “huggyness” will follow!}

                             _{Plan to do more of what YOU LOVE and your mind and body will LOVE YOU for it}

_{Note: Definition of “Huggyness” – a delightful feeling of rainbows and clouds over a 24-hour period coupled with the essence of love and marshmallows. Characterized by the desire to give frequent hugs to others at random times of the day!}

_{Happy Huggyness - Daisyvw the Camper Van will be out and about on Valentines handing out hugs!}