It's the beginning of the year and you may have made and broken a whole load of resolutions by now.

If you haven't fulfilled all your aims yet, don't worry – neither has anyone else! January wasn't the best of months to make a change. Maybe you were still paying off Christmas, the weather was miserable, most people started dieting and laying off the booze and all in all, everyone was a little bit sluggish.

However, now that February has arrived, it's time to really make a difference.

Instead of setting unrealistic goals to achieve by the end of the year, why not take things back to basics and look after number one? Choosing some very achievable tasks will leave you feeling better in yourself than forcing yourself to attend a gruelling gym class five times a week.

We've put together a guide that is easy for you to stick to and that you will actually enjoy – so your resolutions will actually be achieved this year!

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With Christmas just around the corner, you're probably starting to fill your cupboards and fridge with tasty food to enjoy over the festive period.

You could have stockings full of presents but the thing that most people look forward to on Christmas day? The food!

Here's our guide to preparing the perfect festive feast.

In the run up to the big day...

If you're a dab hand in the kitchen, you probably want to whip up a variety of treats for the Christmas season. With so many parties, family gatherings and festive work days in the coming weeks, cakes, buns and mince pies are always at the top of everyone's wish-list.

Take the stress out of your baking days with a food mixer. Mixing ingredients, especially sugar and butter, is everyone's least favourite part of baking, and a food mixer does all the hard work for you. It also takes a lot less time, so you can squeeze baking into your busy schedule or use it as an excuse to make double the amount!

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Statistically, it takes women 5 hours and 38 minutes to get ready for their Christmas party.

To some, that may seem ridiculous, to others it might take that long just to perfect your winged eyeliner. But overall, we can all be a little guilty of indulging in a good pamper session prior to a big event!

Your work Christmas party is probably one of the biggest nights out of the year and you start planning your outfit, travel arrangements and tickets months in advance. You definitely want to be looking your best, even if you do see these people every day of your life.

It's a chance to get together with your work friends, mingle with those who you don't often speak to in the office, let your hair down and celebrate the festive season.

We've put together a checklist of what you're going to need for the big night and ways to enjoy the getting ready process just as much as the party itself...

Before the day of the event:

1) Find The Perfect Outfit

Firstly, you're going to need a show stopping outfit. Everyone has already seen you first thing in the morning so you many not have anyone to impress, but it's still nice to look and feel amazing at your Christmas party! Choose something that you can't wait to wear and don't be afraid of a bit of glitz and glamour – it is Christmas after all! Don't leave outfit shopping until the last minute, and give yourself time for online orders to arrive. There's nothing worse than running around the night before sorting everything out!

2) Sort Your Accessories

Team your dress with some skyscraper heels, a clutch and some beautiful jewellery. You might want to shop around to get your perfect look, so don't leave this until the last minute either. As soon as you have a dress sorted, make sure you have everything to accompany it.

3) Have A Pamper Session

Get yourself relaxed and pampered in the run up to the day. Have a bath, exfoliate, shave or epilate your legs, moisturise, give yourself a mini facial and colour and treat your hair. Finish the whole pamper process off by giving yourself a relaxing massage using the Scholl M Rolling Shiatsu Massager which effectively soothes away the aches and pains associated with today's busy lifestyles!

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Christmas is only a month away, and amongst the festive excitement, there is always a huge amount of festive stress.

Buying presents, organising the Christmas dinner, wrapping, decorating, making party plans and arranging to see the family can be situations that you'd rather leave on the back burner.

The key to enjoying this Christmas?

Organisation.

Before the wrapping paper is shredded, you've heard the same Christmas Classics CD on repeat for two days and you feel like you've eaten more food than you have for the entire year, you need to ensure your home is holiday ready.

If your house is sorted, everything else will fall in to place.

Here are a few ways to ensure you're organised and ready for the festive fun...

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As the 31st October comes round again, the shops are filled with multi-packs of sweets and chocolate, fancy dress outfits for all ages and enough decoration ideas to turn your entire house into a haunted mansion.

Children and adults alike love the chance to dress up as a frightening alter ego. Whether you're going trick or treating with the kids or having an night in with your friends watching horror movies, one thing is almost certain – sweets and treats will be involved.

A lot of parents are worried about how many sweets their child will consume around the Halloween period – they are literally handed to them on a plate, especially if you let the kids go trick or treating. There are other safety issues too – a lot of parents don't like the idea of letting their child wander the streets in the dark.

We've come up with a few tips to make sure your little ones stay safe and healthy this Halloween...

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