So excited to be doing my first blog giveaway!  This is all happening on Instagram over the Easter weekend so do please pop over there to join in.  One lucky follower will be able to choose a pom pom scarf from the two below - coral or navy, both are absolutely gorgeous!

I have been slowly introducing some brighter spring colours into my wardrobe over the last few weeks.  And changing my base colour from black to navy.  I've not gone out and bought loads of new outfits (yet) but adding a new scarf or two is the perfect way to update things without spending a fortune.  Plus we still need a bit of extra layering to keep the chill off at the moment and a lighter weight scarf is a good way to do that.

Here I am wearing the coral one with a navy blue silk blouse from Hush - it's a lovely colour clash combo as the birds are pink and coral!  But I think that coral goes so well with navy blue.

And this is the navy blue one worn with a pink Hobbs jumper I featured on my last blog post - it is in the sale.  I love the way the pom poms fall on the scarf - the trick to wearing the scarf like this is to hold it from a corner then drape it round - I will need to do an instastory on this!

​Plus the new scarves I have will double as sarongs in the summer for my holiday in Sri Lanka!  I used one of Sweet-Bea's lightweight scarves last year for this purpose and it was perfect as an easy cover-up and to use if I  needed some protection from the sun.  You know the one leg that is a sticking out from under the umbrella or has gone a bit red.

Here I am styling it with a navy blue bikini from The White Company (mine is last year but there are similar navy ones this year and they even have tiny pom pom detail too)!  My trilby hat is from Marks & Spencer Menswear - again mine was last year but have a look at this one - I have a size small.

I am wearing the navy one here with a beautiful sky blue coat from Boden - I picked this up in their late sale a couple of years ago, I always try to buy expensive items like coats in the sale - Boden currently have a mid season sale on with up to 50% off so worth seeing if you can find a few bargains.

But I think this scarf will also double up really well as a sarong!

And doesn't it look fresh against the navy and white breton?  This one is from French Connection but Boden have some in the sale at the moment.  A breton is a perfect transitional item to take us from spring to summer.

And finally I wanted to share these pom pom garlands for brightening up your home!  They'd look fabulous in a child's room or I am going to use mine in my 'she shed/gym' to make me smile on a dull day.  They come in lots of different colours - baby pink, grey, white and turquoise and they are £16 less the 20% discount available all next week!  The little fur heart key rings are really cute too - not too big and lots of pretty colours.  These key rings double up as beach bag charms too!
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To use my exclusive discount at Sweet Bea please put the code FAB20 in at the checkout for 20% off and free UK postage.

But don't forget to pop over to Instagram and join in the GIVEAWAY for a new scarf!

Love
Michelle xx
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Diana Maxi Dress from Boden (now in sale), hat as before, scarf as before.

It's Easter again, doesn't time fly!  Last year I wrote about using the long weekend to have a wardrobe sort out.

This year I will be doing the same again and reminding myself of the tips from Katherine in last year's post.

This year Easter is a bit earlier and we have hardly been blessed with any spring weather yet - we've had the odd day/hour/minute :) but really nothing to get inspired by.

I have even bought a few new bits of knitwear in the sales as I have got fed up with my winter colours but it is not time yet to get the lighter knits or spring colours out.  It is so frustrating (yeah I know it's no ones fault)!!.  These three Hobbs jumpers were all reduced in the sale and I thought with two having 3/4 sleeves I could make them work until it does finally warm up!  I love a pink jumper for spring.  Hobbs knitwear sale here or at John Lewis here.
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But I really do need to spend some time moving my heavy winter wardrobe items out and into storage and getting out my spring / early summer bits.  I've already started to sort my scarves out.  Look out for my Easter discount at Sweet Bea for some really super scarves and accessories.  I will be sharing some ideas for scarves that double as a sarong for the holiday season!  I know it feels a long time off but it's fun to plan and dream.  And I'm doing my first BLOG GIVEAWAY over on INSTAGRAM!  You will have the opportunity to win a beautiful pom pom scarf from Sweet Bea so make sure you are following me and look out for the post on Thursday.

I've already bought two new summer dresses!  I am always on the search for cotton dresses and I spotted a few in Monsoon so I ordered one and I am very pleased with it.  I also had a £15 voucher and 20% off at Boden so decided to replace my much loved maxi dress.  Monsoon Paisley Print Dress and Boden Diana Jersey Maxi Dress.  The Boden dress is now reduced in the mid-season sale!

We have a fantastic trip to Sri Lanka organised this summer so I will need lots of cool cotton dresses that don't crease.

What I've been wearing:

Hobbs Etta Jumper Now £52 at John Lewis worn here with black coated jeggings from Next, scarf from Sweet Bea and red boots £18 in the sale at Marks & Spencer.

This blue coat is a few seasons back Boden sale bargain - always the best time to pick up a coat!  I am wearing it with a new pom pom navy scarf from Sweet Bea and new navy boots from Hobbs (also in the sale but sold out at John Lewis and Hobbs online - Next have a couple of sizes but not showing the reduction)!  I like a navy boot for spring and my old Cara ones had given up!

That's all for now - remember to look out for my Sweet Bea discount and giveaway coming soon and if you would like to have email reminders of new posts and special offers direct to your inbox please do sign up here.

Love from
Michelle xx

A couple of months ago I was at a party and I was asked what I do.  I stumbled over how to answer (admittedly it was very loud and difficult to have a conversation) - I said I was a full time mum and waffled on about how busy I am!  The next day I thought about this conversation and thought why don't I say I AM A BLOGGER? 

I have always been incredibly proud of my role as a full time wife and mother so I have never been ashamed to tell anyone.  It is my priority in life and has been for 20 years, I never once regretted not returning to my former career.

For about 6 years I worked for my husbands business based at home,  I set up the bookkeeping and admin and taught myself how to run a small business.  I was able to do that alongside being at home with the children so it worked very well and I enjoyed it.  Until the dynamics changed and my husband was in the office more - then I really didn't like 'working with my husband' I will save that for another post!

I started my blog as a hobby - I love style and shopping and I love helping others.  And I wanted to document my life as I approached and journeyed through my fifties, I wanted to share and inspire others - style, health, fitness, taking care of ourselves.  But I wanted to learn too - I don't always get it right and some days I hate what I am wearing too!

But this conversation got me thinking.  I'd like to do more with my blog now.  Possibly in less than two years my daughter will be going to university and I might be facing an empty nest.

I wonder if I could 'up the ante', meet other bloggers, network, chat to brands.  Create something for me.

So I've bought myself two books.

​And I've set myself a challenge to learn more about blogging.

I'll be sharing a bit more about me and who I am in the coming weeks.

I'll be sharing a bit more about what I'd like to achieve with my blog - what I hope you will get out of it.

I'd love to hear from you though.  Who are you and what do you like about my blog Fifty & Fab, what would you like to hear more about?  What could I help you with?

​My one aim is to be me, to be genuine, I have said before that I am more inspired by bloggers that post about their real life and don't just put an outfit on for a photo shoot then change back into their PJ's or leisurewear.  When you see me on Instagram or photos on my blog, they are absolutely what I did that day!

I'd love you to sign up to my email updates here (I promise I won't bombard you) and come along and follow me on Instagram and Facebook.  I have lots of plans for Pinterest and a Hashtag and I would really love you to engage with and help me along the way.

Thank you so much for getting me this far and all your lovely comments and feedback, I am working on a blog giveaway that I think you will love so watch this space!

Love
Michelle xx
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I've resisted this trend so far - I am always late to the party, especially if the trend is something a bit bright, a bit out of my usual stay safe comfort zone.  But I spotted these in Next when I was on my 'No Spend February' plus I've seen Avril at A Life to Style wearing a pair she got in the M&S sale and she is one of my inspirations.  So I looked at the options more closely.

These are the Red Mid Point She Boot from Next at £38 so pretty good price.  As red boots are a trend rather than a classic I don't think it is worth spending a huge amount.  I doubt they will be worn daily.  They are not leather but look pretty good and were comfortable despite being a 3.5 and I am a 4, also being a shoe boot they are lighter for going into spring.​  Next had a few other styles so worth browsing but these were my favorites.

These M&S Kitten Heel Pointed Tow Ankle Boots are £35 and look good but I've not tried them on (yet)!  Now reduced to £20 - very few sizes though!

Going up a bit in price are these gorgeous pair from Dune - Osha currently reduced to £85.

My favourites are the Dune ones but I am not sure it is worth spending that much so I may try the Next ones in a 4 and see how I get on.

Have you got a pair of red boots - do you wear them?

Love
Michelle xx

Update:  Between writing this post and actually publishing it, M&S started their mid-season sale and I picked up their red boots for £17 via the Sparks offers.  I wore them last night and they are on my Instagram.