TOP FIVE PRODUCTS TO MAKE YOU ZZZZZzzzzzzzz

It would be nice to think that the sky turning black at 4pm and working long hours would mean that we all fall asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow, but sometimes we just can't nod off. Below are some products that may help you fall into the most blissfull nights' kip you've ever had...

Devon Duvets
www.devonduvets.com/

First things first, you need a super-comfy duvet to sleep in. Devon Duvets are natural with a 100% wool filling and are encased in soft cotton. The wool is reared by British farmers and the unique and natural properties of the wool resist dust mites and could help to relieve allergies or asthma - helping you drift off and have a comfortable nights sleep. 

BetterYou Magnesium Oil Spray - Goodnight, £11.95
www.revital.co.uk/



BetterYou Magnesium Oil Spray - Goodnight is a unique combination of magnesium and essential oils to help promote peaceful sleep. Spray it on skin to replace magnesium lost through modern diet and pressured lifestyles (Magnesium deficiency is responsible for nervousness that prevents sleep). The spray also calms muscles and nerves which regulate melatonin - the hormone essential for normal sleep cycles. Each bottle contains up to 800 individual sprays to send you into a peaceful sleep every night.  

NiteHerb, £5.99 for 3 tablets
 http://www.niteherb.co.uk/,



I've spoken before on this blog about Valerian, as it's clinically proven to help sleep. New NiteHerb tablets contains 150mg of extract from valerian root. When people with sleep problems take Valerian, the quality and duration of their sleep improves, so insomniacs should give it a go.

Tisserand Sleep Roll-On Remedy,  £5.25

 http://www.tisserand.com/

Small enough to keep in your handbag, the Tisserand Sleep Roll-On Remedy is a great way to help you switch off. Just roll over pulse points when you wish to feel sleepy and feel yourself relax. It smells lovely - with calming lavender oil, comforting bergamot oil and ylang-ylang which aids relaxation. This is the perfect travel companion for people who find it hard to sleep away from home.


Gingerlily Eyemask, £12.90
http://www.gingerlily.co.uk/



I often wake up too early when the sun rises - even in winter, and an ideal way to ensure you stay in a deep sleep is to invest in an eyemask. Although masks you pick up on flights are an option, look after your skin with a silk one - like Gingerlily's. As silk is high in protein, it is extremely soft and kind to the skin - you'll be able to sleep for longer without getting wrinkles! I'm sure Sleeping Beauty had one of these!

What do you use to ensure you get enough sleep?



TOP FIVE CHRISTMAS DRINKS

Christmas time, mistletoe and wine.... or other tasty drinks. Below are my top five festive tipples - I hadn't realised until after I created this post, that all my favourite drinks are red. Bonus.



Fountain of Youth
Made with Russian Standard Vodka



I adore cocktails - I was a cocktail waitress for a little while, such a great skill to have in life! The above pictured cocktail is called Fountain of Youth - it's made by pouring 50mls of Vodka, 60mls of Pomegranate juice in to a cocktail shaker with  thinly sliced ginger and ice, you then shake it vigorously and pour into a Martini glass (wipe a mint leaf around the rim of the glass first) and garnish with ginger. I used Russian Standard Gold Vodka in the recipe which is really good quality. If you know someone who loves their voddy, or someone who makes a lot of cocktails, it would make a great Christmas present (you can by it in an amazing gold presentation case).

Cranberry Gin, £3.80/100ml
http://www.demijohn.co.uk/.

Another delicious Christmas drink is Cranberry Gin. Home made in Cheshire, this unusual drink has a fantastically sharp and clean taste to it. It is nicely sweet and has a distinctive cranberry taste. Try it with tonic and a twist of lime or over crushed ice as an aperitif. There are a number of bottles you can choose to buy this tipple - it would make a great gift for a gin fan!

Camitz Sparkling Cosmo
http://www.camitzvodka.com/

If you want to celebrate the festive season with something a little bit different, you should try Camitz Sparkling Vodka. It's 100% natural and made in Sweden. As with most bubbly drinks, the fizz only lasts for a few days, making it a fabulous tipple for parties (although after the fizz goes, it lasts just like normal vodka - so no binge drinking please!). It's great for making a twisted Cosmo... Add 50ml Cranberry juice, 15ml Cointreau,15ml fresh lime juice and ice to a cocktail shaker - shakey-shakey shake it - and then pour into a chilled Martini glass. Top with 50ml of Camitz Sparkling Vodka. Garnish with a lime wheel. Delicious.

Pixley Berries Blackcurrant & Raspberry Cordial, £3.19 for 500ml

Waitrose

There's been a lot of colds and flu around lately, so if you want something to make you feel better, why not make a hot toddy? Warm (not boil) some apple juice in a pan with some cinnamon, add a little bit of rum and some Pixley cordial - it'll make you feel warm inside and tastes divine! I particularly like Pixley Berries Blackcurrant & Raspberry, it's lovely and sweet, and the high fruit content of the drink actually helps stave off colds too. I like to have the cordial (without the alcohol) to warm up when I come in from the cold.

Gordon's Gin

It may be 'mother's ruin', but I adore gin. In winter, there isn't much more delicious a drink than sloe gin and tonic on ice, with a squeeze of fresh lime. I usually buy Gordon's, but I'd really like to make some - apparently you pick some sloe berries, put them in a bottle of regular gin and hey presto - if anyone has any information on how this works - how long it takes, how many berries to put in etc... I'd love to hear from you!