Made by pure hands

24/01/2026

Quiet weeks can be stressful when you’re a small business owner, but they also create space. Today I’m back massaging at and feeling grateful after a slower week.

Alongside my usual parenting duties, it’s been a chance to bake, batch cook and make. And this time of year, whipped shea butter is a must.

A massage therapist’s winter bugbear is hand issues: cracked fingertips, dry tight skin around the nails, hangnail, and those tiny painful splits that seem to appear overnight. Add eczema or irritation from constant hand washing and sanitiser, and winter can be tough on the skin.

Hydration (inside and out) really matters. Winter skin needs nourishment from both directions.

Right now, I’m experimenting with Batana oil. It’s a deep orange oil traditionally used in Central America, rich in fatty acids and known for its anti-inflammatory, skin-supporting properties. It's especially helpful for sore, cracked or inflamed skin. Paired with shea butter, it allows me to use less sweet almond oil, making the blend feel less greasy while still deeply nourishing rough winter patches.

Winter skin needs care, protection and a little extra love 🤍

19/01/2026

If 2025 was about calling out other people’s BS, then 2026 needs to be about looking at my own.

Ever since I started drinking coffee daily (somewhere around the spring term of Year 5… the boy is now in Year 8 😳), I’ve watched my water intake slowly disappear.

First excuse: the school run.
I can’t drink water beforehand because 🚽.
My bladder isn’t what it used to be.

Then came fasting.
If I drink anything, I start thinking about food.

Then the 🚽 again.
I can’t keep stopping when I’m out and about.
And I definitely didn’t want it disturbing my sleep.

But here’s the simple truth: every single living cell in our body needs water to function. Skin, joints, muscles, digestion, concentration.

All of it.

There’s very little point investing in good supplements for pain, skin or general wellbeing if one of the most basic building blocks is missing.

So since Twixmas, I’ve been upping my water intake.
Water as soon as I wake up.
😺 can wait.

I even drink a little before bed, and guess what? It doesn’t disturb my sleep.

And the best bit?
Alongside my supplements, I’ve had no eczema flare-up this winter.

Sometimes it’s not about adding more…
It’s about fixing what we’ve quietly been avoiding.

19/01/2026

Today is often labelled 'Blue Monday'.
We know it’s more marketing than science; but many days in January and February can still feel heavy.

Before you rush to put your next holiday on the credit card, it’s worth remembering how many simple things can lift our mood right here.

💫Getting out for a walk instead of sitting at your desk all day.
💫Meeting a friend for lunch.
💫Moving your body.
💫Using aromatherapy.
💫Booking a massage.

And this month, I’ve been reminded of that myself (discovering that a bit of karaoke really did burst those January blues).

None of these are groundbreaking,but they work.

This winter, I’m leaning into simple, accessible ways of supporting wellbeing. And right now, I’m also dreaming up some new workshops designed to help people (and teams) chase the blues away , not just today, but at any time of year.

Sometimes it’s not about escaping the season.
It’s about learning how to winter well.🤍

16/01/2026

Aromatherapy became an integral part of my life because I needed something gentle enough to support my eczema flare ups.

Over the years, it’s also become one of the ways I support myself through winter; helping with mood, sleep and that feeling of being run down that so often creeps in at this time of year. It’s why I love seeing my clients discover how supportive aromatherapy can be when it becomes part of their routine.

At the moment, you can access that support through:

✨ £10 off your first aromatherapy massage with me (when you book before the end of February).

✨ My Winter offers are still available in the Made by Pure Hands shop.

✨ If you’ve had a massage with me before, then sign up for the Aromatherapy Monthly Wellness Saver membership.

You don’t have to carry winter on your own. A little regular support, through touch, scent and routine, can make all the difference.

WinteringWell AromatherapySupport MadeByPureHands MassageMakesMeHappy SeasonalSelfCare

13/01/2026

It’s a wet, miserable day at ☔
But inside, I’ve created a warm, cosy, safe space. A place to leave your worries and pains on the couch.

Wintering invites us to slow down, soften, and take comfort where we can, and today that comfort looks like massage clients leaving lighter, calmer, and with a reset for the rest of the week ahead. 😄

Some days, that’s more than enough.

12/01/2026

This probably isn’t the picture you expected to see on my grid (especially as I’ve started January embracing the simple things).

Top of my list right now is hydration, but that post will have to wait, because first I need to share what’s been going in my shopping basket instead.

It seems Vanessa 5-0 is chasing away the January blues with a little karaoke 🎤
Who knew? 🤷🏿‍♀️ Well… I probably should have guessed,🤔 given my lifelong love of singing (even if it’s not quite performance-ready these days). I may need to take a few lessons from the choir boy.

The upside? I clearly didn’t even need my Be Fearless rollerball for this one 😆

It also reminded me that when Karen Arthur featured me (two years ago) for her podcast, I promised myself I would find more joy.

I think I may have just unlocked the key.

It really is the simple things that bring us joy.
I’d better warn the neighbours to invest in some earplugs; though if they can survive the noise of a perimenopausal woman parenting a tween, this might actually be music to their ears. 😆

08/01/2026

The first week back is always hard, and then there’s January!
If this week has felt like a lot, get the diffuser going and settle in with this Self-Compassion Meditation by for the Made by Pure Hands Wind Down Zone.
Be kind to yourself. We’re still wintering. 🤍

05/01/2026

Twelfth Night is here, and for many today marks the first day back into our usual routine.
It’s still deep winter though.

Freezing temperatures, dark mornings, and some of us have already experienced the first flurry of snow ❄️

School doesn’t return for everyone until tomorrow, and life is still finding its rhythm again.

I’ve already had my first day back at RESET on Saturday, helping my clients prepare mentally and ease their bodies into the first week back.

So if today feels slow or a little heavy, that’s okay.
This is a week for gentle starts, keeping warm, staying hydrated, and not asking too much of yourself.

Winter isn’t a season to rush.
Let this week be about settling, not striving 🤍

02/01/2026

One thing I’ve learned over 11 years of working with clients and my own personal self-care journey is this:
✨️ It’s rarely the big changes that create the biggest shifts.

So for 2026, I’m intentionally focusing on the simple things.
The everyday habits we overlook.
The small adjustments that support the body quietly and consistently.
The foundations that help us feel more resilient, especially through winter.

Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing the same gentle reminders I offer my clients, encouraging you to fix the simple things first, before reaching for supplements, quick fixes or doing more.

Because when we support the basics - warmth, rest, hydration, breath, nervous system care, everything else has a better chance of supporting us too.

Simple doesn’t mean insignificant.
Often, it’s where real change begins 🤍

31/12/2025

What can I say about 2025?

It was a year of hope.

It wasn’t everything I imagined it would be, but when I let go and surrendered, unexpected and beautiful things unfolded. ✨️

Throughout this journey, my resilience muscle was stretched and strengthened in ways I couldn’t have planned, and that’s the energy I’m carrying into 2026.

And honestly? Vanessa 5-O is shaping up to be my favourite decade yet. 😉

27/12/2025

And here we are in that Twixmas space.
Christmas very much still here, but with quieter days, more nibbling, and not quite as much movement. 😆

This is the time I notice stiffness creeping in, so I’m keeping things simple: gentle movement, hydration, and massage. My own massage is already booked because I know how much it helps with my stiffness, muscle tension, and circulation.

If you’re feeling the same, I’ll be back at RESET, Peckham Levels on Saturday 3rd January, offering massage sessions to gently support your body through winter.

✨ January appointments are now open
✨ Limited availability
👉 Book in -Link in the Profile or click here
https://made-by-pure-hands.uk2.cliniko.com/bookings

27/12/2025

It's Twixmas where we all start to feel a bit still, from too much couch/bed time. 😆

This is one of my favourite Yoga with Bird videos, for days when I need a gentle routine to get the body moving.

This all in one miracle yoga is sequenced to offer you a full body stretch morning or night.Doing this as a morning yoga routine can help you release the nig...