Welcome to the next interview in my occasional series - where I talk with amazing midlife women who are being brave and trying new things - maybe a career change or a new business venture.  I meet so many women who inspire me and I love to share their stories with you.  

This is Mary who I met a few years ago when I was volunteering at the Citizen's Advice Bureau for one morning a week, my first foray into something outside of the home other than our own business.  I volunteered for a year but then it became a little difficult with my available time as I was needed to help out with some family commitments.  Anyway I met Mary who was working there and then bumped into her again at a networking event in Marlow last year.

Mary has recently retrained and set up her own coaching business specifically focusing on menopause and midlife.  Here she tells us a bit more about her and her life and why she decided to change her career and retrain.

A few years ago, like everyone else, I read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo and then more recently I have taken a look at Marie Kondo on Netflix in her new series, Tidying Up.  Now I am a pretty tidy and organised person, I try not to accumulate too much clutter, my lovely cleaner comes every week and I am at home quite a lot .... but I still felt I needed a good declutter!  I kept saying I was going to do it myself but I never quite got around to it.  Or I'd start and get distracted.  Sound familiar?  Then I met Jo Hall and she arrived like a real live tiding up fairy and has been absolutely fantastic!

We started off with my son's bedroom - yes I know he is 21 and yes I know he should do it himself - but I was getting desperate and I wanted to decorate so I asked his permission and while he was away on holiday Jo arrived and we set about finally decluttering about 15 years of 'stuff'. I was hooked so I booked Jo again to help me with the utility room and kitchen.  Then again to do the office!

Jo is so lovely!  So I asked her if she would share her story and details of her decluttering services on my blog .... 

I met Wendy last year through the Business Girls Network and popped into her beautiful home based shop - The Wendy House - to take a proper look around!  Wendy is one of the loveliest, chattiest and friendliest ladies you could meet, she is bubbly and enthusiastic and clearly loves what she is doing.  She also has a sharp creative eye for choosing items for her shop and presenting them all in the large bright room she has above her garage at her home on the outskirts of Maidenhead in Berkshire.

I of course came away with a few purchases!  And then went back for a few more bits for Christmas gifts and then ordered one or two more things which Wendy posted to me!  Like the pretty and bright coloured Powder gloves in the photo below.

Wendy is proof of the importance of embracing life in midlife and that it is possible to change careers and do something different, something you love, that it is never too late.

So I asked Wendy if she would share her story on my blog and offer my readers a discount too - so you will find both a discount and details of a giveaway she is currently offering - and if you are a scarf addict like me then you will love the giveaway!  All details are below.

With the new year and after the indulgences of Christmas we all start thinking about our health and fitness - but slow down, don't rush into anything!  The more we rush the more likely we are to fail - it is more important to take things slowly and develop a new lifestyle.  With this in mind, the timing seemed perfect to share this interview with you ....

I met Bev about three years ago when we both did The Body Coach plan and we were members of the Facebook support group.  We got chatting and I loved her approach and attitude, she really supported me.  When she announced she was going to retrain and become a health and lifestyle coach focusing on women in midlife, peri-menopause and menopause, I was definitely in agreement she would be perfect for it.  She runs her own Facebook support group now which I help out with as an admin called Fifty Fit and Fabulous so I thought it was about time she took part in my Embracing Life series ... do make yourself a cup of tea and take time to read this one, Bev is really inspirational, totally understands the challenges of midlife and knows exactly what we are all feeling.  I am sure you will learn something and certainly feel understood!