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Thursday, 16 March 2023
Tell Us About....Scent!
Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Accidentally On Trend - and Bold Colours
& #WowonWednesday
Dear friends. Ever had that delightful epiphany when you discover you're accidentally on trend? It happened to me twice this week.
Friday, 10 March 2023
10 on the 10th: Ring Ring!
Dear friends. I couldn't resist this one: 10 questions about phones! It's the March prompt for 10 on the 10th from Marsha in the Middle. I had a brief two year stint working at BT International in the late 80s and am a bit nerdy about phones.
Wednesday, 8 March 2023
New Beginnings! Fashion and Nutrition
& #WowOnWednesday
Dear friends. Happy International Women's Day!
I always regard March or September as the best times for new beginnings. Forget January with its bad weather and all the pious crusades for giving up this, that and the other. For me, as we move towards the spring equinoxe, the light changes and it's much clearer to think now about how we want to enrich our lives.
SPRING WARDROBE
After not buying anything in January (yep, I fell victim to a pious crusade!), I've bought a fair few things for spring. I don't feel guilty about it. As I've always said, buying everything from charity shops is laudable, and essential if your budget is tight, but if we can afford to buy new we're doing a huge favour to retailers, the fashion industry and the huge numbers of women who work in that sector.
When the Kettlewell new range came out I was thrilled to see the return of the short moto jacket Chloe and in a shade called Warm Yellow. Since my re-rating as a spring last year, I've discovered that warm light yellow is one of my best colours. I love it! I have several of these jackets. I wear them a lot in spring and summer both on my everyday walks and dressed up for social events.
I also snapped up the Sunshine Scarf in yellow and flamingo pink, top pic, which I'm wearing with the Becca sweater in lemonade and short tie wrap in flamingo pink. I bought a couple of basics too in terms of tops and another short tie wrap.
Make-up Used
Clarins Everlasting Youth Fluid in Honey, Too Faced Papa Don't Peach blusher, Charlotte Tilbury Brow Lift in deep brown, Suqqu Waterproof Mascara 107, Look Fabulous Forever Soft Eyeliner in forest green and No Shimmer Eyeshade Trio in Soft Greens plus lipsticks True Coral (top pic) and Sunset Glow (second pic). Highlighter: Lisa Eldridge Elevated Glow in Crystal Nebula.
CHANGING MY DIET
Back in 2019 I started eating low carb and it's helped me to keep off the weight. Cue reminder pic of me in 2002, to show you what I used to look like, three and a half stones heavier, at 12 stone 7 pounds (175 pounds or 79kg).
I'd seen research that suggested it wasn't a great diet long-term, and I didn't think much about it. That is, until I had a blood test when I signed up for the NHS Our Future Health initiative (read about it here). My triglycerides were so high they couldn't get a reading for cholesterol.
When I Googled high triglycerides, it suggested that this affects obese people who eat processed foods and sugar, as well as those who consume too much alcohol and those who don't exercise.
I immediately cut out my lunches of full fat Greek yoghurt layered with toasted nuts and berries, and reduced my my high consumption of cheese. I then took a private blood test with Medichecks - you do it yourself and send the sample to them for analysis. Four weeks had elapsed and everything was normal (including triglycerides) except for my cholesterol which is high, both for "good" and "bad" markers.
My risk of heart disease is still mercifully low because I have hereditary low blood pressure. But it's still been a wake-up call.
My diet was mainly deficient in grains, fruit and pulses, so I'm gradually reintroducing them. I've decided to have red meat only very occasionally and to increase consumption of fish. I'm also reducing consumption of eggs, although they seem to be exonerated in most research I've seen lately, and swapping my egg breakfasts for overnight oats, porridge or smoothies with oat milk, cacao and berries.
The thing that bugs me the most is the full fat business.
The British Heart Foundation has a low cholesterol diet on its website and it recommends everything should be low fat: yoghurt, milk and cheese, with vegetable spread instead of butter and vegetable oil instead of coconut oil for cooking. I find this odd because low fat foods, and vegetable spreads and oils, are generally highly processed and/or full of sugar.
I still can't bring myself to buy low fat yoghurt so that's an avenue of pleasure closed.
I'm not expecting to lose weight but I hope to see the cholesterol levels drop. I pledged to myself that I would do everything I can to stay in good health and not require prescription drugs.
International Women's Day
In honour of today I bought a book from Amazon which is from a first time author in her 50s: Trespasses by Louise Kennedy. It's been long listed for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023. It's the haunting tale of a Protestant-Catholic love affair. Another debut novel, Fire Rush from Jacqueline Crooks, also in her 50s, made the long list too. It just goes to show that we are not past it in our 50s and beyond!
What's your view on new beginnings for spring? Have you made any fashion buys yet? Do let us know in the comments.
Sharing this post with: On Mondays We Link Up at Glass of Glam, Weekday Wear at Away from the Blue, #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings, Rena at Fine Whatever, Turning Heads Tuesday at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, Confident Twosday at I Do Declaire, Style with a Smile at Stylesplash, Talent Sharing Tuesdays at Scribbling Boomer, Chic & Stylish at Mummabstylish, #SpreadTheKindness and #Linkup on the Edge at Shelbee on the Edge, Thursday Fashion Files at Doused in Pink, #Neverendingstyle at The Grey Brunette, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style, Traffic Jam Weekend at Marsha in the Middle, Fabulous Fridays at Lucy Bertoldi, Curated by Jennifer (Wednesdays).
Wow On Wednesday Link-Up
Now it's time for #WowOnWednesday, the weekly link-up with extra goodness. Readers can find new blogs to read, and bloggers, Instagrammers and YouTubers can find new audiences! Plus I promote five to six posts that caught my eye each weekend on FB and Twitter. The week's favourites - most clicked - are shared on Instagram Stories on Wednesday.
Last Week's Favourites (Most Clicked)
Layering with a Vest During Bridge Season by Di from I Wish I was Back in Style
9 Spring Trends You can Actually Wear from Kellyann of This Blonde's Shopping Bag
Heather from Bauchle Fashion with 5 Must-Have Thrift Fashionphile Finds
You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enterWednesday, 1 March 2023
How Much Longer Can Brands Ignore the Revenue Opportunity of Older Women?
& #WowOnWednesday
This huge discrepancy is highlighted in the 2023 Is This Mutton annual survey.
Monday, 27 February 2023
Buttoned Up: Style Not Age Challenge
Friday, 24 February 2023
February in Review: Art, Abba, Health, TV and More
Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Is Your Cashmere Ethical?
& #WowOnWednesday
Dear friends. Sorry to add another worry to the list, but are your cashmere sweaters and cardigans ethical?
Unfortunately, cashmere, that most luxurious of yarns, has the most destructive environmental impact of any animal-derived fibre. Plus, as it comes from the winter coats of goats, it also involves animal exploitation, cruelty, stress and injuries. Goats have a nervous system and can suffer and feel pain.
But fortunately ethical suppliers are addressing some of the problems, and there's a welcome trend for seeing cashmere restored and recycled, which means we can buy with a clear conscience.
Friday, 17 February 2023
Judging Books by their Covers and #WhatsOnYourBookshelf
Dear friends. Have you ever paused to look at a particularly beautiful book cover, and maybe bought the book as a result?
As a Kindle reader, book covers have been less important to me. But now that I have access to thousands of unpublished books via NetGalley, and choose titles based on their description/author/book cover, I'm finding that the covers guide me to the right choices.
Thursday, 16 February 2023
Tell Us About.....Play!
Dear friends. My angle on Play, this month's theme for the Tell Us About Challenge, is "The Play's the Thing", and my thwarted theatrical ambitions.
Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Bright Outfits, Chewbacca and Abba!
& #WowOnWednesday
Dear friends. I don't expect you ever thought you'd see that triumvirate feature together in a style blog. Put your feet up, this could be a long post.Further to my January Brights post, here are more colourful outfits which I've been wearing for various challenges on IG/FB, and on outings.
Friday, 10 February 2023
10 on the 10th:
Dear friends. Time for 10 questions on the 10th on the month, set by Marsha from Marsha in the Middle. I'm glad they're not the usual "ick" questions around Valentine's Day. Instead it's all about our loves and hates. Let's dive in!
Wednesday, 8 February 2023
Feeling Your Way to the Best Colours
& WowOnWednesday
Alison Bowker has been running Feeling Colours since 2018. She describes herself as a guide rather than a colour consultant. In her method of colour analysis your body responds to the vibrations of colours. The outcome is a seasonal colour rating and the knowledge that you have a swatch of colours that will flatter you and make you feel fabulous.
Wednesday, 1 February 2023
Walk into Style
& #WowOnWednesday
Monday, 30 January 2023
January Blues! Style Not Age Challenge
Dear friends. Ah, January. Everyone's favourite! It's cold and dreary; some of us are giving up alcohol or buying clothes; many of us are hard up after Christmas. So it's not surprising there's a "Blue Monday" when we're supposed to be at our lowest ebb. But here's the #StyleNotAge gang to cheer you up with some colourful blues.
Friday, 27 January 2023
January in Review - #WBOYC
Dear friends. Welcome to the first month in review of 2023, which has a different look and feel. I'm joining bloggers in the southern hemisphere for #WBOYC, what's been on your calendar.
I didn't set any resolutions as such for 2023, but I did have a few goals:
- To read 100 books and be active on Good Reads
- To have more relaxation via activities like yoga, massage, sound baths
- To have at least one cultural experience a month
- To go on or two MeetUps or walks with the Ramblers Association each month
- To mix up my exercise and do more weights
- To launch a new blogger link-up
- To not buy any clothes in January but shop my wardrobe!
Books
Walks
Cultural Experiences
I've booked to see the new David Hockney immersive exhibition in March. I'm thinking a visit to Tate Modern in February might be good - haven't been there for a few years.
Relaxing
Blog Activities
BBC Radio Devon Anniversary
Afternoon Tea at The Berkeley Hotel

Mixing Up My Exercise
Not Shopping in January
Also in January
What We Watched
What I've Been Listening To
Wednesday, 25 January 2023
Make the Best of Your Wardrobe
Dear friends. One trend so far from the Is This Mutton 2023 survey so far (scroll down if you haven't taken it yet) is that most of us don't organise our wardrobe in any way, and buying duplicate garments is quite common.
Speaking from my own experience, I probably wear 40% of my clothes. But let me introduce you to a woman who's on a mission to make our wardrobes joyful again, and reduce the waste from garments, both financial and environmental, from clothes never worn.
Clare Smythson from Redhill in Surrey has started a new business, Zero Waste Wardrobe, and hopes to leave clients invigorated and inspired to have fun again with their clothes.
Friday, 20 January 2023
Latest Book Reviews
#WhatsOnYourBookshelf
Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Tell Us About....Time!
Dear friends. Today's post is a new monthly creative challenge. I'm joined by bloggers from the US, UK and Australia - Mary Katherine, Deb, Jill and Penny - to answer a different prompt on the 3rd Thursday of the month. This time it's mine, and it's Time.
What Happened on a 3 Day Boot Camp Refresh
Dear friends. I'm back from a three night fitness "kick start" in Derbyshire with FitFarms. It wasn't gifted so I'm giving my own account, having spent my own money! I know a fair bit about diet and exercise but I learnt a lot over the weekend and am here to tell you all about it.
Wednesday, 11 January 2023
What's In Your Wardrobe? The 2023 Is This Mutton Survey
& #WowOnWednesday
Dear friends. It's survey time! This year we're asking about what's in your wardrobe and we want to see a few numbers. How many wardrobes? How many pairs of shoes? But it's not all frivolous. We're also keen to see how you're buying fashion and how you're disposing of it. Have brands improved their representation of older women in ads and on websites?
Saturday, 7 January 2023
Exciting New Blogger Challenge for 2023:
"Tell Us About....." A New Global Writing Challenge
Dear friends. We are thrilled to announce a new monthly opportunity for bloggers to showcase their creativity. I've been joined by Deb from Deb'sWorld (Australia), Mary Katherine from MK's Adventures in Style (USA), Penny from Frugal Fashion Shopper (UK) and Jill from Grownup Glamour (Australia) for "Tell Us About....."
Wednesday, 4 January 2023
January is Bright
& WowOnWednesday
You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter