Being fifty and fab ... in June

How are you feeling about the changes and coming out of lockdown?  I was appalled to see the beaches so busy during the heatwave week.  I'm not rushing out myself, I don't need to go anywhere really, I am slowly seeing friends and family at home.  I've not been to the shopping centres or Waitrose yet.  My habits are definitely changing and I am getting more things from our local farm shop.  I am very confused however by the inconsistencies and I just can't understand some of the decisions, how is it that we can go to a crowded pub but not to get a beauty treatment?

So here I am with a little round up of what I have been doing in June - to live my best life and 'be 50 and fabulous' - and it is getting a bit more interesting ...now I am not just stuck at home!

​Read below to find out what I have been up to - exercising, reading, doing, wearing and beauty tips.

Garden dinner party outfit, wearing the Anastasia blouse from Baukjen, details are below

Exercising - still just walking!  My son has been working in the log cabin and he is not the tidiest (understatement) and he has quite a lot of equipment set up taking over a lot of the space so it is not motivating me to get in there at all.  I figure he will be moving out soon and I can clean, tidy and sort and get back to a gym I love to be in!  So for now, I am not putting pressure on myself.  I do however, need to focus a bit more on creating a calorie deficit, I have gained a few pounds over lockdown, mostly caused by wine and home baking I think.

Reading - I will be completely honest and say I really don't know much about the Black Lives Matter campaign, I did see the George Floyd story on Panorama and it was shocking so my friend recommended I read 'Me and White Supremacy' by Laya F Saad.  And I am also looking forward to reading 'Handle with Care: Confessions of an NHS Health Visitor' by Rachael Hearson.  I love anything medical and loved reading the Call the Midwife books (long before the TV series).

What I am reading this month!

Doing - well like everyone I've been at home, a lot!  But we have also started to have appropriate social distancing get-togethers and social bubbles.  My sister in law lives alone so is in our bubble and I have been seeing my parents a lot but in their garden.  But needs must and my dad needs a little bit more support so using my common sense I have been in the house.  

The first BBQ we went 'out out' to (rather than us at home) was a perfect treat, I enjoyed a sunny afternoon in my sister-in-laws garden and the mostly warm weather has been an unexpected bonus.

We celebrated my mum's birthday in their garden with my sisters, our family of five back together again.  We made an 'afternoon tea' lunch with sandwiches and scones and we tried out one of the two bottles of wine gifted to me from The Wine List - see my blog post here.

Celebrating my mum's birthday, my skirt was last year from Hush and my blouse was from Mango

I had an outdoor get-together with the ladies from the Menu & Mind group, we were able to sit in Anya's garden and chat about our lockdown frustrations, the latest Covid-19 news, the easing of restrictions and how we are all managing with family meals and having everyone at home.  

I did an interview for 'Chats with Carly' who is a health and wellness coach and runs The Feel Good Movement.  Her podcast series is all about sharing and listening to different experiences of life in lockdown, all our challenges and struggles are different but we are all connected by them.  I enjoyed chatting with Carly.  If you'd like to watch / listen then you can find it here, it isn't a long one!

I dressed up for Royal Ascot at Home (see my post here), I dressed up for Dress-Up Friday a few times, I dressed up to share a lockdown outfit with Diana's Wardrobe.  I recorded a little catwalk for the John Lewis collaboration for London Fashion Week, then didn't post it within the date range so missed joining in!  Lots more to see on my Instagram.

What else ... well I saw my dad on Father's Day, we celebrated the end of the first year of university for my daughter with a takeaway and prosecco at home and I had my sisters around for dinner in the garden (on the day the heatwave turned to rain)

Wearing

So what have I been wearing ....

These gorgeous red suede shoes (above) are the Miso Loafers from Van Dal (kindly gifted) and I wore them with French Connection jeans and the very popular white Orson blouse from Baukjen which I can't find on their website now so I assume it has sold out!  They do have a beautiful white cotton dress in the same broiderie anglaise design though - Orson dress here.

Dressing up to stay in for 'Dress-Up Friday

I put my Red Heart dress on for Dress-Up Friday, this gorgeous dress is from Closet London and has sold out several times but back in most sizes now - find it here.

Enjoying the heatwave weather in my garden, dress is in the Boden sale

The Tess halterneck dress from Boden (above in blue spot) is now reduced to £48 and is one of my favourite styles, a really light jersey with a halterneck and pockets!

Below, the red daisy blouse (left) and the navy sheer blouse (right) are both from The Wendy House and are available in some sizes online.  Middle is the Orson blouse from Baukjen.

Another fabulous purchase from Baukjen was the Anastasia blouse (above and first picture at top), I absolutely love it, my wide leg jeans are previous season Boden but Baukjen have similar too.  I wore it for dinner with my sisters at the weekend and added a Boden cardigan around my shoulders for warmth.

Or another gorgeous pair of wide leg jeans are these ones from The Wendy House (I think they have sold out though) but the bardot top is available in lots of colours and sizes.  My silver brogues are from Vionic (previously gifted).

Beauty

Just wanted to add in that I have been trying out some new skincare products gifted to me from Skin:Genius, these are all natural products designed to work with your skins natural genius and not work against it.  I have their three core products - Cleanse (with witch hazel, calendula and lemon tea tree), Treat (with oregon grape, yarrow and roman chamomile) and finally Hydrate (with babassu, macadamia and hazelnut).  Use daily, repeat every day and in around 30 days see your skin adjust.  I also have their Hits the Spot gel to target individual spots or breakouts but I have not used it yet (I do still get spots) but since using Skin:Genius I have not had one!!  

There is extensive and clear information on the Skin:Genius website, this is a very natural, vegan friendly, organic range and is suitable for all the family - your teenage daughter, son or yourself.  I'm impressed with the results so far, my skin is looking clear and bright.  The cleanser is a foaming cleanser and comes with a lovely bamboo cloth, be careful of eye area.  You can buy the complete bundle here or individually.

So what is coming up in July ... well we have two outdoor drive-in cinema events booked, I am hoping to get away for a couple of days and I have lots of blog posts planned including my first giveaway on the blog - a small collaboration with Lizi's Super Muesli.

I've got a hair appointment booked!  I'm not minding the length but I am desperate to get my roots done now.

Love from
Michelle xx

Did you miss my swimwear post?  I absolutely love the Frida swimsuit from Figleaves and you can find all the details on my post here!


Disclaimer: this blog post contains gifted items, I was under no obligation to write about them on my blog though.  I do not use affiliate links.
​​

Enjoying the hot tub in the heatwave and wearing the Frida swimsuit from Figleaves

---

I link up with:

Is This Mutton
#WowOnWednesday 

​Mummabstylish
#Chic&Stylish

---