Nivea 100 Years of Closeness

NIVEA is 100 years old this year, and to celebrate, they've done some research into how touch can really make or break our days.

It really can, can't it? Touch, that is.

I know that I'm a hugely touchy/feely person. I can't help it. I need to feel bonded to my family and friends, and to me, that means hugging, and generally, that helps me to Feel Closer to them. I hug my friends when I see them. Hell, I hug my friends' friends when I meet them for the first time! I'm just that kind of person.

I couldn't imagine *not* being that huggy person, you know?

So Nivea's research into touch has thrown up quite a lot of information about how not only is touch a nice way to feel closer than ever to our loved ones, it's actually an essential part of our growth and development.



For example, did you know that :

• When babies are born, their brains aren’t yet fully formed. Cognitive, brain and socio-emotional development are all dependent on consistent touch from their parents – without it, vital parts of the brain wouldn’t grow properly. Touch is so crucial, it’s the most highly developed sense at birth.


• In the early years of life, children lack the ability to soothe themselves when stressed. Being rocked, stroked and cuddled by their parents is the key – it helps them feel safe and contained.


• Sex aside, regular physical contact is key to forging intimacy and trust. Several studies have found that women who are frequently touched by their partners in a non-sexual way – for example, hugging – produce higher levels of oxytocin, a feel-good hormone associated with feelings of intimacy.


• In old age, touch may help improve health and recovery from illness. According to research, elderly patients who are touched by nursing staff – even imperceptibly, with a light tap on the shoulder – are more likely to eat well. And a light touch on the hand can reduce heart rate and blood pressure in patients prior to surgery.

Now, it's interesting this, for me as the mum of Max, who has autism.

Number two on the list is really rather different for him, you see. Touch and rocking and cuddling while he's in a state of stress, actually causes the situation to become even more stressful for him. So instead of doing what I feel is natural - to hug and kiss and calm him - is completely the wrong way to go about it. For him. However, recently he's started to come over to me for a back rub if he's hurt or upset - which is *huge* for his development!! :)

Ahem, anyhoo... back on track!

Nivea's got a big tour going on around the UK at the moment. Involving debates on whether technology is harming or helping our social interactions, and other such things. It's a big can of worms, I think! You should go over to their facebook page and have a nosey!

They want to get as many photos of people sharing their closeness with others as they can. In fact, they're looking for a million moments of closeness! They will have their photobooths available at their events, and you can add a photo of your moment of closeness onto their facebook page. You could win £100! Definitely worth a look, I reckon!



So, happy birthday Nivea! Here's to another 100 years and taking us into the 22nd century!

*hugs*

Sponsored Post

 

Not Just for Christmas... (sponsored)

This is a sponsored post.



Turkey drummers. *shivers* remember getting them when you were wee? They were always a wee bit soggy on one side for some reason weren't they? It wasn't until more recently I saw that Bernard Matthews Farms had branched out a fair bit since then.



I think of turkey, and I think Christmas dinner. I'm sure it's the same for most of us. It's nice in a big roast, but what else can you really do with it? Well, it turns out that Marco Pierre White has gone into cahoots with Bernard Matthews Farms to try to get more people using turkey instead of their usual meats as it's much better for you than some others. It's low in saturated fat, high in protein, and is also a *lot* cheaper than most other meats.

I've always been a chicken girl myself. With the recession, VAT increases, and my income staying the same though, I've got to save money somewhere, and as currys and fajitas are some of my favourite meals to make myself, but also really expensive, I've been cutting corners by buying turkey instead of chicken. Tonight I made turkey fajitas, and actually... it tasted just as good as it does with chicken, just a different texture really!

One of the main problems most of us find with turkey is that it tastes dry. According to Marco that's more to do with cooking it for too long. So I took that into consideration tonight. Turns out you don't need to cook it for as long as you do chicken. Who knew eh? *cough*

Anyway, if you fancy learning a bit more about what you can swap for turkey, with some really easy looking recipes, have a look at http://changeyourmeatnotyourmenu.co.uk/ and see what you think!

Partage propulse par ebuzzing

Just popping down to the Co-op! (sponsored)

This is a sponsored post



Our biggest local shop is The Co-operative, or the Co-op as we all call it. It's somewhere that I know I'll bump into people I know, I'll have to harass my kids to put things back and by the end of it I'll want to flop down on the sofa at home and not go back for a week!

When I go to the Co-op, the last thing I'm usually thinking about is "what is this business doing for others?". No, at the forefront of my mind is "Please let them have the right bread this time and... Oh! Cookies!". That's just how my mind works.

Just after seeing the new advert for their new campaign, Join the revolution, I was approached by their PR people to learn more about them and, if I liked what I saw, write a bit about it.

It all goes back to the basics.

When The Co-op was first formed by the "Rochdale Pioneers" in 1844, it was different. A group of people got together and opened this business together as a democracy. No one person could decide what happened. It meant that the people running the Co-op were also the customers, so they could guide the business in ways they knew it would help their community.

These days The Co-operative is helping people all over the world to have a better life.



In Kenya they've helped establish the Kibagenge Project to help over 10,000 smallholder tea farmers come together as co-operatives. Kibagenge means "coming together as one".

These farmers now have a stronger voice by working together, and are able to access markets that would previously have been unavailable for them. Because of this they are now Fairtrade certified, enabling them to supply tea for the Co-op's '99' Fairtrade tea blend, and as they own their business, they no longer have a middle man to take their profits from them. Basically, through the Kibagenge Project, these tea farmers are now able to sustain themselves and their community much more than they have before, all because they are collectively in charge of their own co-operative business.

Anything that can help people live a more comfortable life is ok in my book!

I'm not sure of any Co-operative schemes in my area, but I think I should maybe have a look! Is there anything around where you live?

Feel free to go on over to their Facebook page and get involved!