& #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!
Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Monday, 29 January 2024
Friday, 26 January 2024
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.
Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Friday, 19 January 2024
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.
Thursday, 18 January 2024
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.
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
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).
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!
Tuesday, 16 January 2024
Wednesday, 10 January 2024
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.
