Planning a wedding, a ceremony, and honeymoon while you have a full-time job is extremely stressful. You have so much on your plate, and your stress levels take a bit of a hammering, especially if you are doing it all yourself.

It’s generally important to take care of yourself, but even more so when you have a wedding approaching. Be sure to pay attention to yourself in the months and weeks leading up to the wedding.

Try look at alternative options before you walk down the aisle, especially options that will cause the least amount of anxiety. One of these options could include a bespoke wedding location like Granny Mouse Country House & Spa to get rid of the “needless nerves”.

Planning a wedding is hard. Trying to please parents, future in-laws, yourself, and your fiancé may seem like an impossible task. Most people don’t have experience in planning such big and important parties.

So, if you are suffering from pre-wedding butterflies that is normal. Understanding the difference of being stressed over a wedding is one thing and it’s not about having hidden concerns about going ahead with this big step.

Signs of pre-wedding jitters and what you can do about them:

1. Having trouble eating – we often feel like we have “butterflies” when we are anxious about something and this reduces our appetite. It’s important to eat for strength and energy. Try eating yoghurts, cheese and biscuits, or even marmite on toast. Also, if possible, avoid any heavy sugary treats.

2. Can’t sleep – anxiety brings racing thoughts, which tends to be exaggerated when your environment is quiet. Try elements that focuses on relaxation, like having a long bath, putting on some calming meditational music, or doing breathing exercises while thinking happy thoughts.

3. Exercise – nothing makes one feel better than a little exercise, whether it be yoga, meditation, walking or even a session at the gym. Any of these can take the edge off your anxiety. The best idea is to create a regular exercise schedule leading up to the wedding to keep those stresses to a minimum. It does help.

4. Battling to concentrate – get out that notebook and make a list, and tick off as you go. Don’t try and be a hero and think you can remember everything – you are going to forget important aspects which will then just stress you more. (That is why we have bridesmaids to delegate).

5. Short-tempered – this is part of the anxiety process, so try think before reacting and speak calmly to help restore your Zen.

6. The checklist – Who is the boss? The list is! Make a checklist and also include people you can trust to take on some of the responsibilities. If you worry about the day plan, then the checklist needs to include a timeline i.e. contacting various suppliers before the big day. Planning in advance and starting early with all your necessary arrangements will prevent unwanted anxiety and unwanted pressure.

7. Change the tradition – no one says you have to have a big wedding. Remember it’s not the size of the wedding that counts, but rather sharing it with those who mean the world to you.

Contact, the Granny Mouse Team on 033-234 4071 to help sooth those unnecessary jitters.

Inspired by: https://www.psychologytoday.com/za/blog/life-without-anxiety/201803/calming-pre-wedding-jitters

Old is gold, especially when beauty secrets are passed down through generations. When it comes to skin care, grandmothers and mothers know it all. They chose home remedies and natural treatments to beautify their skin.

From old wives’ tales to quirky little hacks, many ladies in the home have tips and tricks specific to them.

Beauty experts from Granny Mouse Country House & Spa take a look back at skin-care through the decades, starting from the “Roaring 20’s” right up to the 50’s.

1920’s – The beginning of this decade, often referred to as the roaring twenties, signified a time of change for women. The Victorian era of pale, covered-up skin and minimal face makeup were out, and a more vibrant look was in. As such, women began taking better care of their skin. By this time, regular bathing had also become normalized, baths even started to be used for relaxation and comfort, although weren’t quite as extravagant as the bath we pamper ourselves with today!

1930’s – An overall bronzed look became fashionable in the roaring ‘20s, and by the 1930’s, women all over wanted to debut a light summer tan year-round. Cosmetic companies took note and followed suit, launching face powders in darker shades meant to provide a ‘barely-there’ tan. More elaborate skin care routines also became popular during this decade, with many women going through 10-step skin care regimens every evening over a basin of hot water.

1940’s – Following in the footsteps of the elaborate skin care routines that became the norm during the 1930s, women in the 1940’s began to prioritize taking care of their skin over everything else. The use of cold cream became very popular, which women would often leave on their complexion overnight rather than washing off. Facial moisturizer also saw a rise in popularly, and women would layer on rich, thick creams that promised baby-soft skin.

1950’s – DIY beauty didn’t just become popular over the last few years. Back in the ‘50s, many women took a DIY approach to their skin care routines, using products we consider multi-use staples today, like baby powder and petroleum jelly.

These generations see the world differently and seek different experiences from their beauty brands. The beauty industry has a healthy future as long as it understands the critical nature of all of its consumer segments.

Nestled in the heart of the Midlands, Granny Mouse’s on-site spa offers a host of treatments to pamper Moms from head to toe. With a wide selection of treatments, ranging from facials and massages, mani’s and pedi’s, body wraps and hydro baths, there’s a treatment for everyone, and packages can be arranged to suit every need.

So, if you’re considering a special skincare treatment for Mother’s Day this year, have a sneak peek at our spa menu by clicking on the link: https://grannymouse.co.za/our-spa