Dear friends. It's been a while since we had a look at my latest beauty buys and what I'm currently trying from brands who have gifted me. So here's my big beauty special. There'll be an update on my eyelash growing experiment; a brilliant new mascara; a new serum, and some body "bio hackers" to reverse cell damage.
Dear friends. The Style Not Age Challenge is back and it's a fun one this time. We're inspired by Iris Apfel, the American businesswoman, who's 101 this year. Today she launched a collaboration with H&M, which just goes to show how timeless fashion can be: the preview is on Wednesday (30 March).
Dear friends. Chances are you may have seen one or two ads lately for collagen to improve your skin, maybe peppered with a celebrity or two. And you may be wondering if it's worth trying. Alternately, you may be thinking about collagen to try to improve arthritis. I've been looking into the subject so here's what you need to know.
Dear friends. I'm ashamed of my nails. When I was young, I had long, strong nails. But for the last few years, my nails have been in a terrible condition.
I try to do the right things. I always have at least 3 different cuticle creams and oils on the go, and apply them twice a day. I use rubber gloves. I rarely use nail polish.
Dear friends. How do you approach the change of seasons, clothes-wise? Like a lot of you, I pack away my winter clothes - and started doing it at the weekend, with my less popular stuff --- and I make a list of what I need.
Today I'm joining Leslie and Marsha for the monthly 10 on the 10th post. which this time is asking questions about my favourite season, Spring.
Dear friends. Bit of a celebration of the poncho today. I'm styling no fewer than three. As spring approaches, a poncho comes into its own when the weather gets warmer and we no longer need coats. It's the same when summer is on the way out but it's still too warm for a jacket.
There are many names for ponchos worn by women: serape, mantilla, lliqllas or jorongo. They all describe the same family of garments: a folded piece of fabric (or two pieces of fabric joined together) made to be worn over the head or wrapped around the body. The poncho originated in Mexico but they're now so popular around the world I think we can avoid accusations of cultural misappropriation.
The three ponchos shown here are all from Kettlewell, the colour specialists. The City Poncho, in one size, is available in nine gorgeous colours. Nothing was gifted.
This purple is called Jewel Lobelia, the most amazing shade, and it's a cool purple for those who have been analysed as Winter. A belted poncho elevates this garment and makes it smarter and good for work. It's also less flappy when you're driving. The belted look is great for those who prefer to emphasize a waist. Sometimes over-sized or shapeless garments can make us look much larger than we are.
Here I am wearing the poncho with a raspberry leopard belt, also from Kettlewell; a raspberry pink blouse (old, M&S)and purple trousers from Robell.
The shoes are actually dance shoes. I spotted them in the window of dance shoe specialists Supadance and was smitten by the fact they're a) purple and b) glittery. I had to get them re-soled because dance shoes aren't intended for wear outside a studio. I'm carrying my Kurt Geiger rainbow bag which you loved last week!
Next up is my Kelly Green poncho, a Christmas present in 2019. My fun snakeskin boots add a bit of edge to the look (old, Asos). Kelly Green is a warm green for women who have been analysed as a spring. I'm wearing it with acid yellow, a cool winter yellow (silky roll neck from Kettlewell). The dark green jeggings are from M&S - I love them and have them in several colours. My layered necklace is made with recycled beads by Bijou Rebooted, featured here.
Now to Carmine Red, a colour for those analysed as Winter. I have an infinity scarf in this shade and love it with bright pink. Alas, I feel carmine red is a bit overpowering on me in the poncho. It suits winters who have deeper colouring than me. I have since returned the poncho. I'm wearing it with an infinity scarf in aquarius and white silky roll neck, both Kettlewell, and a deep wine velvet skirt, old, from Hope. My Celtic red barrel bag is from The Cambridge Satchel Company (current). Long burgundy boots are very old, bought in Cardiff around 15 years ago.
Do you have a poncho or one of its cousins, maybe the blanket type wrap known as a jorongo, or a full length serape? Any different styling tips? Do let me know in the comments.
Dear friends. I don't know if it's the situation in Ukraine, but I feel drawn to wearing black this week. I used to wear a lot of black but since I became passionate about dopamine dressing, and using colour, you don't see me in it very often.
Went to office, first time since early Dec. Quite a few people in. Cafeteria staff trying new options to encourage people back, walking round with tasters of various smoothies.Forgot to take a mask, but fortunately found a well stocked section near the door.
Weds Feb 2
Did workout. Blue sky. Busy at work with planning for the new financial year which starts on April 1. Spectacular sunset.
Thurs Feb 3
Walked to yoga, got bus back. Knees a bit creaky today in the class. Some new sportswear came but most being sent back. Sold 2 items of Kettlewell. Finished work at 7pm and J had forgotten to put my quiche in oven, so ate large bag crisps and houmous instead.
Fri Feb 4
Did Body Balance. Busy afternoon. Still shredding - slow process as the shredder is very temperamental. Shredding dozens of old bank statements. Had the quiche salad from yesterday for dinner.
Sat Feb 5
Walk with J, saw cows, had a go on a swing in forest. My home team, Plymouth Argyle, played Chelsea in the FA Cup. Shown on TV. My nephew travelled to the match.
Sun Feb 6
Busy day with bonus son, wife and daughter aged nearly 3 coming for lunch. Got a 2 outfit photoshoot done and wrote 40% of blog post.
Roasted 2 chickens, as I never think one will be enough. Hid some surprises under coffee table for the granddaughter.
Mon Feb 7
Walk. Saw cows. Lovely sunrise. Started Chloe (BBC) which I stuck with, but was ultimately disappointed by (my review here).
Tues Feb 8
Office. Big news overnight that the proposed acquisition by a big US company is over. Sole topic of conversation at work!
Weds Feb 9
Walk. Saw cattle and walked round Connaught Water. Asos delivery of socks and a couple of sports tops. Hellebores out in the garden.
Thurs Feb 10
Cold, sun out pm. Walked to yoga. Not too busy at moment, which won't last for long.
Fri Feb 11
Bodybalance. Cold. Fresh n up Fri (cleaning).
Sat Feb 12
Walked to Waitrose, 5 miles. Lovely planters over at Buckhurst Hill. Bought a gift card but realised halfway up the steep hill I didn't have it, so had to go back. Fortunately saw it right away.
Pruned roses, it was sunny but v cold. Two hours to rid the rose bed of weeds at last. They'll all be back in a few weeks....
Sun Feb 13
Did a guided walk of Fleet St in London with 15 family and friends. Started with breakfast in Caravan restaurant. J was amazed by the photo I sent him showing I had a "full English," but it's very low carb if you don't have beans or fried bread!
Saw a 10k race going on in central London. The walk was fascinating, Fleet Street was the home of many of the UK's newspapers a few years go. Rain started at exactly 1pm when the walk finished.
Here's the group photo, I'm in the front on the right, wearing a cream hat, with J's sister to my left.
Mon 14 Feb
Not feeling great. Exhausted and aching. Test negative. Just rested all day. Resting heart rate is up, and oxygen saturation 95 (normally 98). Started The Promise, BBC 4.
Tues 15 Feb
Much better. Did walk. Stats almost back to normal. Rainy day.
Weds 16 Feb
We have a new CEO and he delivered the quarterly biz update. Our current owners will float us within 12 months. Redundancies were announced, no details yet.
Thurs 17 Feb
Yoga. Busy day trying to get an ad campaign ready as we have a day off tomorrow, and teeing up 3 emails. Ordered some Easter goodies from Museum Selections (crackers, garland, cards)
Friday 18 Feb
Day of care. Red weather warning for Storm Eunice, very rare. Did walk, urban. Not too windy at that time, but did get worse. Our road was a surreal sight of wheelie bins trundling around and falling over.
Saturday 19 Feb
Went to a meet up of the Colourful Croydon Colour Club, members of the Kettlewell Colour Club. Was worried no trains would be running but it was fine. Nine of us. V enjoyable. I was the only Winter. Back by 5.30. Watched last episode The Promise.
Sunday 20 Feb
Still pretty windy and showery. Wrote a blog post. Accolade for blog from Feedspot, who provide RSS feeds. They rated me as #3 in the top 10 of bloggers for the over-50s. Yay!
Monday 21 Feb
Did a home workout. Too wet to walk. Finished Der Pass. Started Fallet, Netflix - spoof of the Nordic noir genre.
Tuesday 22 Feb
Not many in office again. Talk is about the redundancies. No details yet. I'm philosophical. No point agonising.
Weds 23 Feb
Did a walk, very pleasant, blue sky. Didn't last - soon clouded over. Quiet day.
Thurs. 24 Feb
Didn't go to yoga as I've been missing my walks. Carmine red poncho from Kettlewell delivered. Love the colour but unfortunately not the best on me, so will go back. Gloomy cold. Ukraine crisis developed today.
Fri 25 Feb
Did Body Balance. Had a 2.5 hour workshop at work today. For dinner we took the bonus daughter and her husband to one of their favourite places, Sheesh. It's a strange place frequented by Essex stereotypes - young women in skimpy dresses with cutouts, blonde hair extensions, tans and long nails - and z-listers from TV shows like TOWIE, which we don't watch. The food, Turkish, is passable but overpriced - £25 for chips with a sprinkling of truffle powder! (We didn't have them...)
Pictured, top: what I wore, my mixed "sheesh" (the chicken was much better than the lamb, which was a bit tough) and J's cheesecake.
Sat Feb 26
Did 5 outfit shoot as weather was good. Phew. Walked to Waitrose after lunch. J got me a USB hub to stop me having cables on floor.
Sunday 27 Feb
Did a home workout. The sun was out so managed to get out into the garden to do some weeding and tidying. Loved seeing all the buds and shoots. This is the forsythia hedge, which was a blaze of colour last year in mid March.
Roast chicken. Spoke to Mum. New shredder came from Amazon. I managed to burn out the motor of the other one! This one has a much bigger bin and can shred 5 pages in one go.
Monday 28 Feb
Did a forest walk, saw the long horns unexpectedly. They were eating holly. Very cold. Butter chicken for dinner, I have it with cauliflower rice. Hardly any carbs, and doesn't taste much different from pilau rice.
