Outfits and Food Fun

  & #WowOnWednesday

Dear friends. A few outfits I've been wearing, along with some random food faves and dislikes. I'm sure some of them will chime with you! 

Red Alert!

 #StyleNotAgeChallenge

Dear friends. It's time for the monthly Style Not Age Challenge and Jacqui from Mummabstylish has us on Red Alert.

Fun in January? Yes it's Possible

 

Dear friends.  January is relentless! Five Mondays this year, no less. The weather is bleak, we're often doing one of those ghastly challenges like not buying anything, and viruses are flying around.

I resolved however that January would not be a washout. I booked a few activities in advance. And we were lucky to have quite a few blue sky days, which are stunning in winter. 

What's coming up? Two art exhibitions, two ballets, David Bowie's old haunts, a meet-up of colourful ladies and a moon walking experience.

Beauty Update and Make-up Bag Rummage

 & #WowOnWednesday 

Dear friends.  Today I'm sharing the beauty products that I'm finding really good. And who doesn't like to peak into someone else's make-up bag?

The Secret Pianist by Andie Newton

 

Dear friends.  I'm thrilled to bring you today's book review and spotlight. I loved The Secret Pianist by Andie Newton, and I'm sure you will too. 

Books in January

 

Dear friends. It looks like I've been on a big reading spree this month but in reality most of the books were read last year, ahead of publication. It was an enjoyable month's reading with some very good thrillers.  They all came courtesy of NetGalley and the publishers, except for any marked with an asterisk which I bought.

Let's dive in and discover the first of my two 5 star rated books this month.

Tell Us About....The Road Not Travelled

 & Tell Us About link-up

Dear friends. This month's Tell Us About challenge was set by Mary Katherine, and it's The Road Not Travelled.

"The Road Not Traveled" is a poem by US poet Robert Frost. Its meaning is often misinterpreted.  In the poem the traveler reaches a fork in the road and chooses the path less traveled, with greener grass. 

Eat to Your Heart's Content by Sat Bains

 

Dear friends. Today I'm bringing you a review and spotlight on a book from renowned chef Sat Bains.  During lock down, aged 50,  he nearly died after a massive heart attack during a workout, leading to a triple heart bypass.

Sat, a Michelin starred chef, told The Times:  “I had a really good life balance with work, training, diet and sleep. And then all of a sudden, two weeks after my 50th birthday, a massive heart attack. I didn’t think it could or would happen to me.”

Two days after the operation he contacted Dr Neil Williams, senior lecturer in exercise physiology and nutrition at Nottingham Trent University, and they began to work on a diet and exercise programme which included this book. 

Styling Peach Fuzz

 & WowOnWednesday

Dear friends. You're probably aware that the Pantone Colour of the Year 2024 is Peach Fuzz.  I suspect you either reacted with delight or dismay.

Peach sits firmly in the warm toned camp, so if you're a winter in colouring it will do you no favours. However, Peach Fuzz is a shade that has more softness than clarity, so it can work for those coded summer, worn with other colours.

I have a bit of a soft spot for peach. When I was first told I was a spring in the 1980s, it was one of the few colours that was readily available.  I was more of a golden spring then with my dark hair and tanned complexion and peach was a great colour on me.

Now it's inclined to wash me out a bit, but adding a few other colours gives peach a bit of zest.

You don't need to find an exact match for Peach Fuzz. The pink peach family includes other shades such as apricot, salmon, blush. 

Here I'm wearing layers for warmth: a Light Peach top over a Peach Echo silky roll neck and a Turquoise wrap  (all Kettlewell). My trousers are dark brown velvet. The vegan orange bag was a Christmas present and I've tied a silk Kettlewell scarf around the handle.  The scarf would have been too much around my neck but adds a bit more colour lower down. 

In the next look I've kept the silky roll neck and created a dress with a Kettlwwell Pippa top and ruched skirt, both in chocolate.  The tights are colour Peach from Snag.  Leopard print accessories, belt (Kettlewell) and clutch (old, Next) add a bit of interest. 

I decided to take the photos indoors as it's very cold outside. Fortunately the decor is complementary! 

My last peach look for now is a Bright Apricot short tie wrap, pulled in so that I could add a belt. The top is Apple Mint. All from Kettlewell. 

Trousers are cotton rich relaxed straight trousers in calico from M&S (current). 

You'll find plenty of peach in the shops, and not just for clothes.  It's also very trendy for soft furnishings and interior decor. 

Will you be embracing Peach Fuzz in any way?  Do tell in the comments. Scroll down below the link-up for the comments box.

Sharing my posts with these great sites. 

Tomorrow it's the first Tell Us About Challenge of the new year, so join me and blogger friends from Australia, the US, UK and Portugal to find out how we handled the prompt "The Road Not Travelled." On Friday there's a bumper books round-up for January.

WOW ON WEDNESDAY LINK-UP

Now it's time for #WowOnWednesday, the weekly link-up where bloggers, YouTubers and IG'ers showcase their posts from around the world.

A big thanks to the bloggers who link up each week, and to you for reading their posts and leaving comments.  Blogging can be lonely and challenging, so your views and comments make it all worthwhile. 

LAST WEEK'S FAVOURITES

Jess from Elegantly Dressed and Stylish who asks Why are Stripes Associated with the French? 

Rena from Fine Whatever, who's embracing the Anti-Trend Trend.

Fall Winter Stitch Fix 2024 Review from newcomer to the link-up, Getting My Act Together blog. Welcome!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The Trauma Effect by Zetta Thomelin

 

Dear friends. Today's book spotlight is on The Trauma Effect: Exploring and Resolving Inherited Trauma. It's a book that reveals how a family secret and trauma caused suffering that was passed down to those who were unaware of the original tragedy. The book then follows the journey of recovery.

Reclaiming the Frump Factor

 & WowOnWednesday

Dear friends. What's this, you're thinking, has she lost her marbles? Is it now trendy to look frumpy? (An oxymoron if ever there was one).

I'd just like to say that when we're at home, seeing no-one and doing nothing very much, frumpy is comfy! And frumpy is ageless, because young women will also be wearing the same "lounge wear" as us, in all honesty.

Favourite Books of All Time

 

Dear friends.  This is the first in a new Sunday books post. I thought I'd kick off with my favourite books of all time. 

The Many Faces of Gary Oldman

 
Dear friends. Season three of Slow Horses is over, and we're gutted. Like many, we love watching this classy spy drama to see Gary Oldman as sleazy Jackson Lamb is a master class of acting. 

If you don't have Apple TV, it's worth getting just for Slow Horses  (plus the first series of The Breakfast Show). 

Backwards and Forwards

 & #WowOnWednesday

Dear friend. A Happy New Year to you! Today I'm looking in the rear mirror at 2023, and then looking forward to 2024. If you have goals around nutrition and fitness, I have a discount code for blood tests to check your overall health.