Being fifty and fab #beingfiftyandfab

5/4/2018

Welcome to the first of what I hope will be a regular monthly post and hashtag #beingfiftyandfab! The idea behind this regular post is to tell you what I have been up to be BE fifty and fab ... and for you to share with me what you have been doing. Comment below, I'd love to hear from you. Or use the #beingfiftyandfab hashtag on Instagram!

I will be posting about day to day life, ups and downs, what I am doing, what I am reading and where I have been. Just every day bits that encourage me to be fab, to include self-care in my life, to be the best I can be, for me! There might be exercise hints and tips, nutrition ideas, recipes, it will evolve!

And I want to inspire you to do the same! Put a bit of time aside for you. I will include ideas and recommendations, suggestions for what I find helpful and I hope that you will share with me - maybe there is something I can share on my blog that we can all try.

This month I have been ...

Exercising - umm not a lot at all! I got really involved in some technical bits for my blog and a few networking events plus the ongoing miserable weather seems to have sapped my energy and enthusiasm. I like to be real! And I am real, I really do hate exercise, I do it because I have to if I want to keep fit and healthy and stay slim and lean. My PT was away for a week but she is back on Thursday so I will be trying to get back into it.

Reading - I have been trying really hard to read more, to put the iPhone down an hour or so before bed and read a book. I must say I feel better for it and I do sleep better. This month I read a book that was a bit different to my usual. I joined in the book club on the Facebook support group Fifty Fit and Fabulous and read The Wonder by Emma Donoghue - it is set in Ireland and tells the story of Anna whose deeply religious upbringing is threatening her life and Lib the nurse who comes to care for her. I also read Paris for One and Other Stories by Jo Jo Moyles - this is a collection of short stories and includes a preview of Still Me (third book in the Me Before You and After You trilogy).

Wearing - I have been desperate to shed my winter woolies and start wearing some spring colours. I have had a wardrobe sort out but it is still cold and despite trying very hard to remain positive it is affecting my mood. I was gifted two new scarves from Sweet-Bea and swapping from a black base colour to navy and adding in some coral did help a bit! Don't forget that I have a 20% discount for all my followers at the moment - pop over to the Sweet-Bea website and use the code FAB20 at checkout!

Above - Hobbs Pink Jumper, French Connection Breton and Hush Blouse (similar here) - scarves from Sweet Bea

Doing - I attended another fantastic cookery workshop with Fearless in the Kitchen this month. I will write a separate blog post on this as it is so good and too much to tell you here. Look out for it. I baked some delicious healthy treats for the Easter weekend.

We have just had the long Easter weekend and this year we were at home. Some years we might be away skiing but we went earlier this year - although those skiing later this season will be very lucky - the snow has been amazing and it is proving to be a very late season.

Good Friday I had my niece and my sister-in-law here for dinner. I made a salmon recipe from my new cookbook - Sheet Pan Cooking: 101 recipes for simple and nutritious meals straight from the oven by Jenny Tschiesche - this is a really fabulous cookbook - easy, one pan meals - I definitely recommend it! We then sat down to watch the film Wonder (not the same as the book - just a coincidence)!

Easter Sunday I just couldn't get my happy head on. I just felt a bit deflated by another grey day. Despite knowing that I should look on the bright side, I just couldn't seem to snap out of it. I spent the morning cooking a chilli to take to lunch at my parents on Monday then in the afternoon my daughter got some driving practice in and we visited Thame Country Show - it was an outing and it didn't rain! I came home and snuggled down to watch another film!

Easter Monday we had lunch at my parents and looked through old photos then we came home and watched Goodbye Christopher Robin - this is a must watch! Interesting and sad but also cute.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Instagram Giveaway over the Easter weekend - I had lots of new followers and comments on the post. The scarf was won by Lyn from London and she chose the navy pom pom scarf - it is on it's way to her as I write.

I will be back at the beginning of May with another #beingfiftyandfab round up! Until then I'd love you to join my mailing list, I promise I won't bombard you with junk - just an email to let you know when I have a new post up and any special offers just for my mailing list.

Love
Michelle xx

Hobbs Rhian Striped Jumper with Sweet Bea Navy scarf and Boden navy jeans

I'm linking up with:
Mutton Style
Bo's Bodalicious Blog
Sydney Shop Girl
#continentaldrift

and
Not Dressed as Lamb
#SaturdayShareLinkUp

5 Comments

Michelle ...

Welcome to Fifty & Fab, a lifestyle blog to inspire you. I am a blogger with a passion for writing about style, beauty, health and fitness with a focus on the over 50's. I am based in Marlow but work across London and the South East.

Lifestyle blog, blogger Marlow, Buckinghamshire

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Hi, I’m Michelle and my blog Fifty & Fab is all about my journey into and through my fifties. I share style tips, health and fitness inspiration, I talk about my holidays and days out and I tell you about my beauty regime and my lifestyle. I hope you might pick up a tip or two and get some inspiration!

Join my mailing list (above) for regular updates and don’t forget to look at my social media pages too..

Katherine

5/4/2018 05:26:25 pm

Michelle
I like this blog, its a great idea , well done you. I’m guessing this is as a result of your blogging research.
I hope you are feeling happier now the sun is finally shining (well for today at least) Isn’t it incredible how much happier we all feel for a bit of blue sky and sunshine? I am loving the lighter evenings too, at least now when I get in from work I can still go out and not feel as though the day is over, walk the dogs, potter in the garden etc,

I had a great Easter with all my children home , the eldest two down from London ( but sadly not my husband who works in USA) so plenty of laughter and catching up over good meals with home cooked food and a fair amount of booze - I limited myself to a couple of glasses of fizz ( my preferred drink). My parents came over for lunch on Easter Sunday which was a great family occasion. Easter Monday was grey and wet but the dogs always need to be walked , so raincoats and wellies were the order of the day. The house is very quiet now the children are all back at work, but as I am back at work too I’m keeping busy.
I long to get out into the garden and get my hands earthy with planting, fingers crossed this weekend will be fine.
I fell over on the ice back when we had all that snow and it is only recently that I have noticed sore knees which is a real nuisance as it is interfering with my fitness, certainly in the gym! And I love to be active, plus, like you I need to keep moving to keep the weight under control. So i am feeling a bit frustrated, however I do yoga once a week which I absolutely love, its real “me time” and I love the quiet meditation at the beginning and end of the practice; it it also hard work and a great way to stretch out those muscles.
The guy I train with practices something called AMN , it is basically realigning and re energising the body, like reprogramming a computer, with the brain as the processor, and it has worked amazingly on my knee ( and on my bad shoulder). It seems to unblock the neural pathways and “turn on” muscles and also clear any electrical issues within the body; we call it “voodoo” because its so freaky, but whatever it is and however it works, it works! ( And I have probably described it incredibly badly)
Gosh, I’ve rambled on, x

Michael Green link

7/4/2018 10:42:01 am

Hi Katherine, it was so lovely to read your message and hear all about your family and life at the moment. I definitely feel better for the sun appearing. Today I expected rain but it is looking much better and I am off to Windsor with my mum, sister and my daugther, lunch and a little wander. Injuries at our age are such a nuisance but the AMN sounds interesting - I see a fantastic homeopath and cranial osteopath and it sounds like a similar approach, she really helped me with my frozen shoulder and a few other bits, plus just seeing her is relaxing in itself so I don't care how way out it sounds :) it works somehow. Have a lovely weekend and keep in touch xx

Michelle Green link

7/4/2018 10:43:21 am

Haha just noticed I must have use the wrong predictive text with that previous comment - it isn't from Michael it's from me - Michelle :) xx

5/4/2018 08:26:08 pm

Hi Michelle, hope the sunshine perked you up today, I managed to get out and cut the lawn for the first time this year - and escaped cooking dinner! Which reminds me, Can’t wait to hear about the cookery class, sounds fun! Hope you’ll be sharing the recipes 😊
Have to admit exercise doesn’t do it for me either- until I tried Nordic pole walking that is!!! Seems to take all the effort out, it’s so much fun and gives the whole body a workout!!!
Well done to Lyn for winning the scarf 👋
Have a great weekend, looking forward to your next blog xx

7/4/2018 10:37:45 am

Hi Jo, thank you for your lovely message. I've often thought of trying the Nordic Pole Walking, now you've made me think about it again, I will look into when the groups meet! Yes I am just preparing the post about the cookery day and I will ask Jen what recipes I can share. I expected rain today but it is looking really bright so I am off to Windsor with my daugther, my mum and my sister :) Have a fun weekend Michelle x