Passionate Blog

Blooming Dannii Minogue reveals 'Heavenly' way to lose baby pounds

Beauty therapist Deborah Mitchell is helping X Factor judge Dannii Minogue get back into shape following the birth of her baby.

Dannii and partner Kris Smith were delighted at the arrival of Ethan Edward earlier this month. But the popular Aussie star has revealed her radiance is not just down to her adorable new son, but thanks also to Deborah, who owns Heaven beauty salon in Shifnal, Shropshire.

Whilst expecting, Dannii was a huge fan of Deborah’s pregnancy massage – a treatment using aromatherapy oils – and as the massage is also a great way to help new mums relax and re-energise, she is hoping to use them as part of her post-pregnancy beauty regime when she is back in the UK.

Time to change: Helping people who've suffered mental distress tell their story

HAVE you seen the Time to Change TV ad yet?

Linda is working with the press adviser for Mental Health Media in the Midlands to help people share their story of how they have been affected by mental illness.

She's in good company as Stephen Fry and Ruby Wax are also speaking out to help end the stigma.

One in four people in the UK are said to have suffered from a mental illness, with depression being up there as the most common.

It's a privilege to be involved in such a campaign and we look forward to helping make a difference, however small.

Double trouble on Central News

HERE'S Linda on Central News tonight talking about encouraging individuality in twins. The link is to the whole of the programme, and the report featuring Linda starts at around six minutes in.

The news team got in touch as they wanted an expert commentator on multiple birth issues after a mum took her 11-year-old boys out of school rather than let them be separated for 20 minutes.

Linda was keen to stress she would never want to be portrayed as criticising another mum's decision as every family is different, but in general, it's a good idea to separate twins.

This is the latest TV appearance for Linda, who has also been interviewed about twins and more by the BBC and Sky, as well as being on Central twice before.

We think she did great but she says the diet's obviously not so good. [Carol]

Just don't call them "the twins" Big Brother!

TAMBA'S Twins, Triplets & More Week is fast approaching and this year it's a pretty low-key affair. That means I'm helping out voluntarily.

Please consider voting and commenting here if you would like to help my small part in continuing to help raise awareness of issues affecting twins, triplets or more. I've a few ideas up my sleeve as to what to do with the results. Big Brother will hopefully be a good hook...

In the past, we have worked on local, regional, national and yes (get me) international coverage. It's listed after the cut if you'd like to know more.

Ruth Badger following in Sir Alan's footsteps

Well done Ruth Badger on clinching the top spot on Sky One’s new series The Big Idea this week.

We've met Ruth a few times now since she became an ambassador for Compton Hospice and can't wait to see her in this new series.

One thing's for sure she'll be following in Sir Alan's footsteps when it comes to straight talking.  I hope all those wannabe entrepreneurs are ready for The Badger.

And for those of you who aren't quite ready to launch your business ideas to Ruth in front of millions of viewers there's a chance to spend ‘An evening with Ruth Badger’ next month at a charity dinner to raise funds for Compton.

We've booked our tickets already, and there are still some available but places are limited. Click here to book your tickets.

Watch out Sir Alan, The Badger is back!

Katie

Breakfast News

Great to see Carol on the national news this morning speaking up for working parents - mentioned in the same breath as Sarah Brown, who's due to present a Mother At Work award. Still it's a bit odd to see one of us held up as an example of a 'high flyer.' Does that hackneyed phrase have any true meaning? Of course the item brought all the usual "women should stay at home" remarks. What didn't really come across (and why should it in a two-minute report?) was that for us it's always been the flexibility of running your own business that has been the driving force - so we CAN be at the school gates, and assemblies. And because of what we do - that's erm, writing - we can actually manage to do that when our kids are asleep. Shame I missed half of the interview actually - I was doing Melissa's breakfast at the time.[Linda]

My TV debut

Thanks are due again to the erm, lovely (sorry we are saying "lovely" a lot lately!) people at Mother At Work I was filmed yesterday by BBC Breakfast News for a piece on working mums. It will be aired tomorrow (June 10 ) between 6am-9am on BBC Breakfast and a whole day of filming will be edited down to a two minute slot. But it was great fun to do and we can't wait to see it.(Carol)