Review - Butler & Grace Medical ID bracelet

Just over three years ago I got a definitive Type 1 diabetes diagnosis.

Summer was approaching, the weather was getting warmer and pushing my baby daughter’s buggy around in the heat was giving me constant hypos (low blood sugar). 

The worst case scenario that kept running through my sleep-deprived head was getting a bad hypo whilst out and about. 

The idea of a sudden hypo coming on, passing out whilst in charge and nobody knowing my medical history or who to call was a really scary thought. 

There are two things I did for peace of mind. The first was to fill out my Medical ID in the Health app of my iPhone (there's a good set-up guide here).

The second was to get a medical ID bracelet. 

The first I tried was a pretty beaded bracelet but it had an awkward clasp that took me ages to take on and off each day. Next I bought a silicone band - perfectly functional for day to day but more practical than pretty.

Recently I had the chance to try the Tangle ID bracelet by Butler & Grace, a company specialising in stylish medical ID ware.

What I love about this bracelet is that on first inspection it’s a fashionable chunky bracelet and doesn’t scream medical ID from a distance. 

Attached to the bracelet is a small disc with the Star of Life symbol of emergency medicine. On the back it can be customised with your own personal information - mine includes the wording ‘Type 1 diabetic - Insulin Pump - ICE (in case of emergency) and my husband’s mobile number).

It's made of polished stainless steel and has a big clasp, so is easy to take on and off without asking for help.

I’m a big fan of chunky jewellery, so this is actually the type of bracelet I would buy to accessorise an outfit. The fact it’s also potentially lifesaving is an added bonus.

Next on my list is to teach my daughters about the bracelet so they can make people aware of it if mummy isn’t feeling well.

If medical ID bracelets have never appealed to you, I’d highly recommend taking another look. For the full range of Butler & Grace products, take a look here.

Butler & Grace kindly sent me the Tangle bracelet in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and views are my own personal opinion.

The importance of 'me-time'

“‘Taking time out for yourself is not indulgent. It’s essential’”

I came across these words from Marina Fogle, founder of ‘The Bump Class’ and the wife of TV presenter Ben Fogle, when skimming through the Sunday papers and I literally couldn’t agree more.

Just a few days beforehand, after a hectic day with our two young girls, I cornered my husband and told him I desperately needed some ‘me-time’. 

I wanted to either check into a hotel for the night or find a spa with a pool I could sink into for the afternoon.

I personally believe taking time out to recharge is absolutely essential. 

I’m a bit of a slave to my phone at the moment and to social media - I’m falling behind with reading and watching films.

I'm easily distracted by technology, my mind is distracted and foggy.

Sharmadean Read who founded WAH Nails and beautystack.com offers some great advice in her column in The Guardian’s Weekend magazine :

“‘You don’t need to move 100 miles to get headspace: simply scheduling a long Saturday afternoon walk in empty fields will do. Go on your own though. It’s remarkable what your brain comes up with when you aren’t preoccupied with other people.’”

So my headspace came in the form of a spa afternoon. I found an offer at a favourite London hotel of mine -  One Aldwych and booked myself in for a Sip and Spa treatment - a signature Glow Oskia facial which included a cocktail in the bar afterwards and also access to the indoor pool.

The facial was 75 minutes of luxury pampering and deep cleaning. The luxury treatments on my skin included warm candle wax painted on my face which was just blissful.

I had the pool (which plays music underwater) to myself and got some laps in before sinking into one of the lounger chairs in my fluffy robe and reading a magazine.

© One Aldwych Hotel

 

A Rose de Mai cocktail was served up in the hotel’s Lobby Bar afterwards. I remember first visiting this bar a few years back, enjoying afternoon tea as the sunlight snuck in and filled the room and its high ceilings with light. 

It's so easy to put off ‘me-time’ - make excuses, feel guilty for leaving the kids, or maybe for spending the money.

I can honestly say, a few hours out, even for a spa, dinner or a coffee alone, really can make the world of difference physically and mentally.

8 ideas for creating a New Year Mood Board

In the corner of our bedroom sits my little office.

And one of my absolute favourite things in this corner is my wire mood board. 

I love gathering together pictures, cards, little notes and drawings from my girls. Sitting on my bed and looking up at this collection always made me smile.

I don't get round to changing it as much as I'd like but I use it to help me come up with ideas and inspiration.

If I take a picture I am really proud of, I clip it on the board and this helps boost my confidence. If there's a place I'd like to visit, I'll add a picture too so the idea is never too far from my mind.

I'm also a big believer that by writing things down you have a clearer focus and get more done. It's the same with pictures.

So as we begin 2018 I've updated my board and I have some ideas if you want to create your own.

1. Wire Mood Board - The board itself is a great modern take on the cork pinboard. It's made by Block Design and is available from Amazon or Black By Design.

2. Quotes - Kikki.K do great quote cards perfect for attaching to boards. I've also recently discovered personalised gift wrap. Instead of using it to wrap presents, I've personalised the paper with my own quote 'Seek the Light, Take the Picture' and added it to my board. The gift wrap is by a lovely new company called Prettygifted.co.uk and the Quote cards are by Kikki.K

3. Photos - I really learned the hard way a few weeks ago when my main external back-up hard drive just simply failed. I'm still trying to figure out how to save the data which includes a huge stash of photos of my girls. So printing for me is more important than ever. I've just tried a company, based in the UK called Inkifi. They have an app and produce these wonderful photostrip prints (as seen below). They are well priced and have a range of other high quality products.

4. Inspiring pictures - I'm always keeping an eye out for pictures that inspire me and I collect these together for my board. It could be an image that has great composition or that evokes an emotion. Having great pictures on my board helps me learn, makes me work harder and keeps me passionate about photography.

5. Places to go - I really want to go on holiday in 2018 and keep getting drawn back to stunning Fjords of Norway. The main picture on my mood board is taken in the Fjord town of Olden. Both of my girls and my husband are sitting beside the lake with snow capped mountains in the distance. It was a really special trip and having this picture on my board is not only a lovely reminder of a great holiday but it's a reminder to book another one!

6. Children's Drawings - I just love to wake up and look at drawings by my girls. Alice (3) is just learning to draw faces and each new picture is an amusing, quirky treasure!

7. Hanging Ornaments - In my case it's a palm tree as I just love palm trees. I've seen some mood boards with real hanging plants and this looks great - (see Pinterest for ideas). It adds a bit of colour and fun to the board.

8. Lights - Definitely not just for Christmas. Fairy lights are great for finishing off a mood board. In the evenings, if I am working at my desk or reading in bed, it adds a gentle warm light and cosy feel to our room. 

I've also put together a board on Pinterest with more mood board inspiration. You can find it here.