5 Ways To Boost Self-Confidence

"Self Confidence Is The Best Outfit. Rock It And Own It."

As some of us may know through personal experience or if we have helped a loved-one through a tricky time, there are times when our self-confidence can take a bit of a knock. Remembering that this is totally normal and that is ok for us to take a dip now and again is crucial. Sunshine always follows the rain.

There are days when we boss-it, there are others when all we want to do is curl-up with a big vat of tea and a packet of Hob Nobs. We all experience the full gambit of emotions as human beings and this is actually our superpower! Learning to ride the waves of life is the trick and if we fall off the surf board,  we climb back on and keep going because at the end of the day, it's the challenges that make us grow and become stronger.

We've put together our Top 5 ways to boost self-confidence and we can vouch for the fact that repetition is paramount - making these things part of our daily routine is essential and oh-so effective.

1 - Write down 10 things you like about yourself. Ok, we found this a little bit challenging - I mean, it can feel odd to do this (at first), but it gets easier! Trust us. So, once you've got your list, try to take 10 minutes each day to write them down (again and again). By repeating these mantras, we start to believe them! Positive affirmations really do work and if you are able to pin some up around your home, even better. A visual reminder of how awesome you are!

2 - Take time out for a pamper session. This can be done at home - you don't necessarily need to go to a salon for a bit of tlc. And of course, an at-home sesh is totally free! We're currently loving our.....and we love to unwind after a busy day and take a load off. Just a 10 minute pamper can have long-lasting effects on our general wellbeing.

3 - Reach Out! Asking your best bud for advice or guidance can do us the world of good. A problem shared and all that. Sometimes, we may not wan to say anything in particular, it's just nice to get a bit of friendly reassurance from our nearest and dearest and did you know that having a cuddle can significantly impact our mood and make us feel good!?! On that note, we have just launched the cutest avocado-themed print to go inside our boxes. 'Let's avo-cuddle', oh go then!

https://www.treatboxuk.com/collections/build-your-own-treatbox

4 - Boost your mood with food! Yes, this is so integral to the health of our body as well as our mind. If we consume healthy, nutritious foods, we feel better. Fact. Don't cut everything out as this can actually be counter-productive but making sure that we nourish ourselves with lovely foods can have a far-reaching and profound effect on our mental wellbeing. A little bit of what we fancy is totes essential but everything in moderation is a great way to go. You will be sparkling from the inside, out!

5 - Get active! A simple 10 minute walk a day can be great for our health. It can boost immunity, mood and self-esteem! Woohoo!! We love an evening stroll along the seafront, there's nothing quite like taking-in the sea air and blowing away the cobwebs of the day! If you fancy listening to some tunes too, then go for it! A bit of a spring in the old step never goes amiss! 

I hope you like this Top 5 and if there's anything you think we could add or if you have a tried and tested fail-safe tip, then get in-touch! You can take a look at our Build Your Own hoary mail right here!!!

Lots and lots of love,

Zoe xxx

5 Things Mums Do For Us & How To Thank Them

It's almost that time of year again when we get reminded to spoil our Mums, buy flowers and chocolates, and generally put ourselves out for a bit. It can sometimes be met with cynicism over 'another' national holiday; but it's important to remember what matters. Mum!

Mums are there from the day we're born, looking after us every second of the day and ensuring we're healthy and happy as can be. Fast forward a few years and we're scrambling for ways to thank her in one day. It can feel a little overwhelming!

(Grab this pretty personalised card here for just £1.50)

Today we thought we'd share 5 lovely things Mums do for us, AND how you can thank them simply for being them! We've got you sorted :)

1. Make us feel loved all year round

Whether we're happy, sad, moody, confused, sometimes a little stupid or selfish; Mums love us throughout it all. Who else would put up with us eh?! None of us probably thank our Mum or make her feel as loved as we should all the time; but you can give her little reminders that you appreciate her every single day. Make her feel loved all year round too, with this cute ceramic trinket dish to give your Mum a little smile each day, or draw and frame your own illustration that she can hang maybe? Like a grown up version of those old fridge artwork's you did for her!

2. Support us

Nobody quite like our Mums supports us through each trial and tribulation, each new adventure, start up business, or plan for the future; even when we're so unsure of ourselves. Mum's can be guaranteed to be the backbone of your support system, and cheer you on when you need it most. Whether it's a late night phone call before a big meeting, or a little card in the post to let you know she's thinking of you, Mum's always there. Show how grateful you are by encouraging her in her own life! An inspiration print, a handwritten note, or even just an email may go a long way.

3. Comfort us when we're ill/heartbroken

She was there when we first had our heart's broken, she was there when we didn't get that job, and she was probably there when we were really ill and couldn't look after ourselves - Thank you Mum! There's nothing quite like that comfort of Mum sorting out the bad days with you, but it's hard to know how to thank her when you can't exactly wait around to repay the favour. Treating her to a huge Mothers Day gift box is a pretty good start though! You can grab one ready made to go (perfect for last minute treats!) or even put together your own special box for Mum.

4. Remind us of what's important

Mum's are the perfect reality check we sometimes need when in the midst of a huge panic over something. It can often feel like the world is ending and that everything is always going wrong for us, even over the littlest of things. She'll cheer you on, sure; but Mum's are also great at reminding you of how lucky, loved and blessed you are in so many ways. It can snap us out of almost anything, and be such a welcome relief when we need it most.

5. Become our biggest fans

One of the sweetest and most genuine things are Mums do for us, is when we aren't even around. Proud Mum's will often spend time telling anyone who will listen how brilliant we are; acting like our own little PR rep behind the scenes! If you've done well in your studies, got a good job, a nice partner, or even if your hair is just looking extra glam lately; you can guarantee Mum will be blabbing away boasting to all her friends about you. You're her pride and joy; and it's really very sweet tbh. How can we live up to this?! Well, the answer is by giving her something she can show off at home, when friends visit. Grab this adorable 'Love you to the moon and back' plaque and pretty bracelet - and you'll give her something else she can show off! Let her wear the bracelet all day long, and display the plaque somewhere proud at home, and she'll have another excuse to brag; she will be telling everyone how wonderful her son/daughter is!

There are so many ways to can spoil Mum this year, both little and big; but whatever you do, make sure she knows how appreciated she is! New mums might also need a little extra love too, as this is probably the hardest time for them, and they don't get many thanks back! Treat a new mum this Mothers Day, and you'll not only be a very well-loved daughter, but a star friend too!

Have a wonderful Mothers Day!

Treatbox Advent Calendar

This beautiful photograph was taken by the talented Sarah Folega.

As we dive into January with festive filled hearts, and eyes still glowing from all those fairy lights everywhere; it's easy to get a little case of the January blues. Most of us are back at work, back to the daily grind, and feel as if Christmas is a far off lovely dream that is basically a million miles away.

But things needn't be so blue! Here at Treatbox, exciting things are in motion already, to make 2018 even better than ever!

If you're a regular fan or subscriber, you may already know that for Christmas 2017 Treatbox launched an amazing 24 day advent calendar, filled to the brim with wonderful goodies for a BARGAIN price! It was the ultimate festive treat, and so may of you loved it, that it SOLD OUT!

Each was filled with incredibly unique items ranging from homeware and jewellery, to beauty products and stationery. There was SO MUCH packed in, ensuring everyone would be thrilled, and really doing whatever possible to make this advent calendar the very best it could be.

And here's the thing; it's coming back bigger and better than ever for 2018! I know it seems a long way off right now, but imagine how great it'll feel come December when you have a gift to your future self, from your past self?! You can book it in full today, pay a deposit, or even pay in small increments if that works better for you (minimum £5 each time). Treatbox want to work around you, to make things as easy as possible!

5 Reasons You Should Book Your 2018 Advent Calendar Now:

1. A massive 160 boxes were sold for the 2017 advent calendar, selling them out completely, AND people were still messaging after asking for more and more. There was a huge demand, so booking yours ensures you won't be let down!

2. The value for money is absolutely INCREDIBLE. With everything that was included in the 2017 calendar, each item would have brought a grand total of £114; and people only paid a grand total of £51.95 for theirs! That value for money is astounding, and competes with some of the biggest brands on the market.

3. Each item is special, made with love, and truly beautiful. Whether it be a set of fairy lights to decorate your work space, festive nail polishes for the beauty addict, or candles perfect for adding that perfect touch to any room; Treatbox makes everything with so much care!

4. Supporting small business is crucial! You might not have really thought about it before, but supporting small business is a BIG DEAL, and you can make a difference! Rather than focusing on the huge, international brands, high five the little guys! Treatbox is a brand that focuses on making every single customer happy, and also works with other small businesses regularly. So by choosing this as your advent calendar for 2018, you really are helping out!

5. Feeling organised makes Christmas so much easier! We all know how crazy things can get around December. Trying to find gifts for difficult people after work hours, fighting with a million bags, queues that seem to last forever... Why not make your life a little easier for 2018? Book your advent calendar now, and you'll have something ticked off and sorted already! When your calendar arrives, you'll feel SO proud of your organised self!

This years calendar is available for the bargain price of £56.95 and will be worth much more too, so it's definitely one to get your mitts on! If you start now, you could even pay £5 a month and you'll hardly notice it then! (Email info@treatboxuk.com for this option).



Don't forget to check out #TreatboxUK on Instagram too, as you'll be about to browse all our customer photos and see how happy everyone was with the 2017 calendar!

The Gift Of Giving

At this time of year, when we're all obsessing over Christmas trees, panic shopping, and buying chocolate in dangerous amounts; it can be easy to overlook the greatest joy of this time of year. The simple act of gifting something with something that you know they'll love, is simple and beautiful and one to really treasure.

Whether it's reminding your Mum she's still your hero with a personalised treat, or giving a friend a little laugh over a novelty gift; getting someone a present this year doesn't have to be hard work or as worrying as we sometimes make it out to be.

All year round we deal with birthday wishes over Facebook, cards sent too late, being too busy to catch up with old friends, not having enough money for a night out like the old days, looking after kids and not getting a moment to ourselves.

So why not make Christmas the one time of year to truly treasure the special moments we get with our favourite people?

Take the time to help your Mum cook Christmas dinner (or do it for her and let her put her feet up!), tell Dad how great he's looking, or send a card to that friend who lives so far away, telling them how much you miss them.