Yearly Archives

2017

In memory of a lost friend

December 31, 2017

Only last week we talked about her – I joked that Jude had to become friends with her daughter again just so I could reconnect with her Mum! I thought that we were more than just Mum-friends – we went ice-skating and held gloved hands round the rink. I remember her hugs so vividly. They were not polite, brief, pat-on-the back sort-of hugs; they were long, lingering, squashed and intimate. I miss those hugs…..

long sleeved red dress

The red Christmas party dress

December 23, 2017

Red is the colour of choice for this season anyway, so what better time of year than Christmas to embrace the fashion? I bought this red dress from the Jameela Jamil collection at Simply Be back in spring, but sadly the event I bought it for was cancelled, and I’ve been waiting for the opportune time to fetch it out of my wardrobe! Christmas is practically upon us, and I think this red dress could not be more perfect for the celebrations! Pillar-box red is a colour that suits everyone, so don’t be a wallflower in black this holiday – get out the dress you know you’ve been wanting to wear!….

Glastonbury Frost Fayre

How to shop at Craft Fairs – Advice and 10 Dos and Don’ts

December 8, 2017

Christmas is on its way! You may start to see more posters going up at the school/church/town hall/community centre etc for craft fairs. It’s the perfect chance to support local people, businesses and the event, which is usually for charity or raising funds for a community group, but before you go, please read this…..

blogger event advice

How to go to a blogging event as a shy introvert. My Next Blogger Network event experience

December 5, 2017

I recently went to the Next Blogger Network event in Shoreditch in London, and I’ll be honest, it’s one of the most scary things for me I’ve ever done! The week leading up to the event was spent either putting it to the back of my mind and pretending it wasn’t happening, or feeling so worried I got a massive ulcer on the inside of my cheek! However, I knew once I’d forked out the money for the train fare, I would have to go, so I went ahead and did that first so I couldn’t change my mind! In the end, I feel it was a very successful day and I’ve come away from the event feeling very proud of myself and ready to go out and find another blogging event to go to! Here’s how I managed it…..

how to make a rustic advent calendar

How to make a simple beautiful rustic advent calendar

November 27, 2017

I don’t know about you, but I’ve really struggled to find nice (and affordable) advent calendars in the shops this year. I haven’t seen any from Cadbury at all in Tescos, so I don’t know if there’s a general shift away from the chocolate advent calendar, or whether there’s just a short supply in my area. Anyway, it doesn’t matter too much to me, because I’d already planned on making a rustic pretty advent calendar for my kids. (By the way – this last point is a “blogger lie” ie. I made it last year, but was too late to write a blog post about it!) This one is pretty quick and easy to make, and is really effective….

fashion blogger over 30

How to style red velvet trousers

November 22, 2017

I’m covering two of autumn / winter 2017 fashion trends here: velvet, and red! These are actually two of my favourite things, so I was pretty chuffed to find them both together in these trousers from Joe Browns. I went very casual with this outfit, but as velvet is really a luxurious fabric, you could also style them up to be really smart. I could swap my old battered converse for a pair of heeled boots and there you have your day to night outfit sorted!….

Tarte eyeshadow palette review

A review of the Tarte Tarteist Amazonian Clay eyeshadow palette

November 14, 2017

I am constantly on the hunt for a matte eyeshadow palette, and if I see one, I will probably buy it! I honestly don’t know why they aren’t more popular, because I just cannot get on with an ordinary eye shadow! I had a little splurge on make-up a couple of years ago and talked about my issues with the No7 eyeshadows and the Maybelline eyeshadows that I bought. They simply do not look good on me and the pigmentation is rubbish. I decided it was about time I stopped faffing about with mid-range High Street make-up and actually spend some money….

photobook review

How to take control of all your photographs

November 6, 2017

About this time last year, I worked with a company called Printerpix – it’s one of those online places that print your photos on all manner of gifts as well as your standard prints. I actually had two photo books printed by them and was very pleased with the quality and ease of use of the website. My parents recently came to stay, and I produced my most recent one for them to have a look at, and Mum asked if I had seen her Italy holiday photos yet. I hadn’t; and I knew it would mean squashing up next to her while going through all her photography files on her small laptop. It got me thinking how strange it is that in a time when we are taking more photos than we ever have done before; we’re actually getting far less printed. They remain a fleeting post on Facebook or Instagram, but are rarely printed and displayed or treasured in a large and heavy book. Has our old family tradition of passing around the photo album at Christmas or after a Sunday roast been lost?….

fashion blogger over 30

How to wear a wrap-dress. My favourite floral dress from summer to autumn style.

November 3, 2017

I love a floral dress, and I don’t think they’re just for summer either. Sling a shawl or cardigan over the top and team with a pair of brown leather boots and you’ve got yourself an outfit perfect for the autumn season…..

Dorling Kindersley Fashion book review

The book you must buy if you’re interested in Fashion – the ultimate book of costume and style Published by DK Dorling Kindersley – Book review

October 30, 2017

Everything about the cover of this book is misleading, and unfortunately you will find it in bookshops with a cellophane wrapper so you may not be able to look inside. With only the word ‘Fashion’ in bold pink letters on the spine, and a modern slim-fitting dress flocked on the front, you would be forgiven for thinking this is a book about modern fashion. You’d be wrong…

mail order dog food review

Yes, this is a blog post about dog food! Natural grain-free food and treats from an online pet shop.

October 26, 2017

Loki has become the star of the show in several of my YouTube videos. He also commands attention whenever we take him anywhere; we love him to bits, but he can also be a bit embarrassing! He slobbers on everyone; bumps into them; accidentally knocks small children over and even when we meet people who are perfectly fine with all that, he will never take a treat from them. When family buy him expensive treats at Christmas, they’re lucky if they get a sniff. Even at the Pylle Happy Landings dog show, he wouldn’t take the free samples of handmade dog treats offered to him. He just isn’t interested. As a puppy we had to train him with cheap sausages and pieces of cheese – not the easiest of foodstuffs to take about with you. So when PetShop sent me a box of dog goodies to review, I didn’t hold out much hope….

style blogger over thirty

Styling cream and khaki and enjoying a warm day!

October 16, 2017

Khaki green is another regular colour that crops up in most autumn fashion style editorials in magazines at this time of year – some years more than most. I’ll admit, it doesn’t seem to be one of the major must-be-seen-in colours of fall 2017, but none-the-less I love it! It’s almost a neutral, and seems to go with every other colour in my wardrobe, except perhaps red and grey. And pale blue. Ok, so maybe not every colour, but quite a lot! It goes perfectly with dusky pink (of which I own a fair few items), black, and every shade of brown from dark chocolate to pale cream. On this occasion, I chose cream….