The famous wedding rhyme dates back from the Old English rhyme, “Something Olde, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, A Sixpence in your Shoe.”

These objects were considered necessary for brides to incorporate into their wedding dresses or carry with them on their wedding day, with the belief that they would bring good and happy marriages. This reportedly dates back to the Victorian era from Lancashire, a county in England, signifying a fresh beginning, and hopes for a happy marriage. The oldest written reference is in an 1871 issue of St. James Magazine.

• Something Old is meant to represent the best of a couple’s non-married life and the intention to bring that into their marriage. This often includes a piece of jewelry that would have been previously worn by the bride’s mother, grandmother, or aunt.
• Something New, being that of the new life the couple will be starting together, and includes everything from new clothing to an accessory.
• Something Borrowed is a bit more superstitious. This would be an item borrowed from someone who is happily married and, therefore, passing on that good luck. It could be anything from a necklace, bracelet or even a hair clip.
• Something Blue is a colour that is known to be representative of “fidelity and love’s purity.” It was also a popular colour to wear prior to the white wedding dress trend. Tavares says it’s meant to represent an item to “baffle the evil eye.” This could be the garter, or even shoes.
• A sixpence in your shoe dates back to the Victorian times, where the father of the bride would place a sixpence into the brides left shoe, symbolizing good luck, longevity and prosperity for her life. This one seems to have slipped away from many modern day weddings, but some grooms have had cufflinks featuring coins to subtly carry on the tradition.

Wedding traditions are best celebrated in gorgeous venues, surrounded by your loving family and friends. The themes may vary from wedding to wedding, but the tradition remains the same and keeps us connected to the past, in addition to building memories of the present. And at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, the event planners & coordinators make sure that these traditions turn into lasting memories that are cherished for a lifetime. If Granny Mouse Country House & Spa is your venue of choice, then contact them via www.grannymouse.co.za to create your memorable wedding moments!

Stretch marks are set-in streaks that show up on your stomach, breasts, hips, butt, and thighs.  These long, thin, rippled marks are also called striae. If you have stretch marks, you probably wish they’d go away. They aren’t harmful to your health, but they are not great to look at, either. And even though they’ll never really go away, they might fade over time or with help from certain products and procedures.

There is no way to guarantee that you don’t get stretch marks, but there are tips to help reduce your risk. These would definitely include staying hydrated, helping keep your skin to stay soft. Cutting caffeine from your diet also helps. But if this is close to impossible, try to drink these in moderation and aim to increase your water intake.

Try to eat foods that help improve and promote healthy skin. Include foods that are rich in zinc, high in vitamin A, C and D as well as those rich in protein. Foods that are on the list include nuts, fish, carrots, fruits, dairy, lentils, beans, beef and chicken.

Exercise increases circulation and helps your body produce collagen. Increased circulation and collagen help your skin stay strong and stretchy.

Stretch marks are irregular areas of skin that look like bands, stripes, or lines. Stretch marks generally occurs when a person gains weight rapidly, puberty growth spurts, pregnancy, or has certain diseases, conditions or it’s genetic. They can occur in both males (in areas of weight gain, muscle growth & growth spurts) and females (especially when pregnant, and during the last trimester). There is no specific home care for stretch marks, and they do often disappear after the cause is gone.

Stretch marks are not painful, but can affect the mental health of some people, worrying about what people are thinking when looking at them.

Here are a few ideas that can assist in improving the condition, but rather consult a specialist or healthcare provider before going forward with any of these suggestions:

• Tretinoin cream may help reduce stretch marks.
• Laser treatment may also help.
• In very rare cases, surgery may be done. Dermabrasion is a type of surgery. Your healthcare provider uses a specialized instrument to scrape away your stretch marks. The process improves your skin contour and results in smooth new skin.
• Microneedling, is when your healthcare provider pokes your skin with thin needles. The tiny punctures stimulate the growth of new collagen and elastin fibers to create firmer skin. Most people require between three and six treatments to see results.
• Retinol comes from vitamin A. It’s an ingredient in many over-the-counter (OTC) anti-aging skin care creams because of its ability to improve wrinkles, skin texture and your skin’s hydration levels. Retinol creams may require at least six months of regular use before you see noticeable results.

The Spa experts at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa suggest that you investigate the side effects of any of the abovementioned treatments before trying them.

However just bear in mind that stretch marks will eventually go away or become less noticeable on their own and with constant self-care, including massage, stretch marks can be minimized.

Don’t be shy when you visit the “Mouse House” Spa team for a massage, as stretch marks do tell YOUR STORY. And while you are there, why not ask the therapists which treatment would be best suited for you.

Inspired by:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stretch-marks/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10785-stretch-marks