How are you all doing Absoluters, and what's keeping you sane in lockdown 3? Snowmen building and snowball fights perhaps, as for me? Walking and running with Rosie is also definitely keeping me sane - and active!

It's a tough one that's for sure, with a start to 2021 being different from any other year we have experienced. The need to keep positive has never before been so great, and the support of others has never been so affirming.

And this affirmation started with my session with celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton, who joined me to answer all your hair Q&As. During this chat with the lovely Andrew, I regrettably referred to lockdown as the new normal. Andrew swiftly and rightly put me in my place and said we should never start thinking like that! I must say I agree and have changed my thinking: I will never refer to lockdown as the new normal again, I promise! Even when I feel my mind slipping, I put it back on track - thank you, Andrew. You can see our wee chat below. 

Andrew and I met on what is officially known as 'Blue Monday', but there was nothing blue about it, and it really did lighten the AC day. What are you doing to lighten your day and feel your absolute best, guys? Let me know!

As for me, well - you all know me by now, I'm a simple gal at heart, and a walk or run with Rosie always makes me feel my absolute best. I love to see her trotting around wagging her tail, she just looks so happy! It really is the simple things in life.

Our AC team is ever-growing, and 2021 got off to a strong start for us. Please join me in welcoming Ben and Gemma - two more amazing members of the team who will be working hard for the Absoluter community as it grows and expands ever further!

And soon, we will be welcoming the tiny patter of AC feet, as our Digital Marketing Manager, Hannah, headed off to hopefully put her feet up and prepare for the arrival of her baby girl. We could not be more excited!

AC HQ is also preparing for our own new arrivals: two new flavours! Can you guess what they are? Don't worry, our Absoluters will be first to know and try them out, and of course the original AC lemon flavour will be staying.

On a personal level, I would like to congratulate all the Absoluters who are homeschooling. I can't begin to imagine the stress this causes, especially as the months go by. Stop whatever you are doing right now and congratulate yourselves - you're doing a great job. It's not just homeschooling, but it is how we hold everything together for everyone else - that’s a career in itself. Whether you're a one, a couple or a family, we are all doing it, and it can feel a strain and a lonely job.

This whole social distancing thing is necessary - but it's tough too. You're stuck at home, alone. You can't pop by your friend's house for a Thursday night catch-up or a quick morning coffee. And your weekly lunch outing with your 'work-family' is no longer an option either - at least, not in person.

We seemingly have all had to cancel everything, it's tough, and I get it. But if you're like me, you probably use your mobile devices, social networks and a whole bunch of apps in your everyday life. So why not use them to set up a coffee and a chat to break up the silence of your day? I'm doing it, and it's making me feel a whole lot better amid all the crazy stuff going on right now. Trust me - you'll feel lighter and better.

Stay connected & stay sane, lots of love,

Maxine x