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My countdown to confidence at 60 and why I'm rebooting my health and wellness journey in 2026!

30/11/2025

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A few months ago I read Kate Muir's book 'How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis' and it really inspired me.  I hope to share some of her wisdom with you but most importantly I need to use her advice to motivate me to get my own shit together!  It's been a long time coming.

Nearly ten years ago, I started Fifty & Fab as I approached 50, a space to share my journey towards feeling fabulous and living life with confidence. And I did feel confident, I achieved so much but in the last few years, life distractions, menopause, and a changing body have knocked me slightly off track.  I have been feeling lost and a bit unsure about what's next.

​Honestly 50 was easy although I didn't appreciate that at the time but now I am soon to be 59 I realise that was the simple bit. I was full of energy, ideas, enthusiasm and time was on my side.  Right now, not so much, there is a real sense of time running out and I am scared of the possibility of dementia (for very personal reasons I will touch on later).

It's time to reboot and get myself back on track!  It is only 60!  I have many more fabulous years ahead of me.  

I will be 59 in December and 60 in December 2026, the countdown starts now!

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
​Abraham Lincoln

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Countdown to confidence at 60!

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Life lately ... holidays, autumn outfits, favourite beauty buys and the countdown to 60!

26/10/2025

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Hello!  I've not done a really personal post for ages, and it is very remiss of me, I want to make sure my blog remains a personal space but sometimes life takes over, I get busy and I end up having to prioritise sponsored posts (because it is the paid and the affiliate content that allows me to keep my blog going)! 

Anyway, how are you all?  I'd love you to email me or leave a comment below, I always appreciate hearing from the real people that find my blog and hopefully resonate with the life of a 'nearly 60 midlife woman' - how is that possible?  I will be 60 in December 2026!  The countdown needs to be begin.  Share with me how you celebrated your 60th, if you have already reached that milestone.  And below I will share a few ideas I have.

What have I been up to the last few months?  Well as summer was slowly departing, I had a short trip to Ibiza with my daughter, then a few weeks at home to catch up before I went to Tűrkiye with my husband.  I've also been updating my wardrobe, putting away summer and organising autumn/winter but with a few new capsule pieces added.  Read on to find out more about life lately and take a peek at a few new outfits!
woman walking through hotel garden in ibiza wearing fedora sun hat, blue bikini and lace beach kaftan
Ibiza baby! Wearing my new favourite bikini from NAIA Beach.

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How to find the right home care | 12 tips for choosing a carer for your loved one

30/7/2025

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Finding the right care for an elderly parent can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to balance their independence with the growing need for support.. Over the past year or so, it has become apparent that my dad needed a little bit more help at home, he's been living alone since my mum had to go and live in a nursing home due to advanced Alzheimer's.  Having been looked after by my mum for 60 years it was quite an adjustment, both emotionally and practically!

My dad is 88 now and fiercely independent, fortunately he is still mentally sharp but his mobility has declined, we've gradually introduced a few things to help like a stair lift and walking aids.  Me and my two sisters live nearby but we wanted to make sure our time with him stayed focussed on keeping him company, fun outings, celebrations, and doing family stuff and not personal care.

After lots of family discussions, we introduced a carer into his routine: someone to visit for one hour each morning, six days a week. It’s made a huge difference, she helps him get dressed, prepares breakfast, organises medication, tidies the house, and checks if he needs shopping or errands done. More importantly, they chat, and he no longer starts the day alone.
​
Through this experience, I learned a lot about what matters when choosing a carer. If you’re currently navigating this journey for a parent or loved one, here are my top tips to help you feel confident about your decision - plus a great offer from Country Cousins, who provide compassionate, one-on-one carers across the UK.

This blog post contains an affiliate link - get £50 off your care membership with Country Cousins (see below).
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How to find the right home care for a loved one - tips based on my recent experience with my dad

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The benefits of a private health check | my experience at The Maxwell Practice a private GP in Henley-on-Thames

14/7/2025

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I don't know about you but I'm guessing you are just like me, as midlife women we generally put everyone else first, our children, ageing parents, work commitments and endless to-do lists, and we brush off the nagging signs that all might not be well with our own health and we just carry on. Getting a GP appointment can be a mission, often needing to be booked weeks in advance, so we give up. NHS health screenings can feel a bit sporadic and disconnected, there’s rarely an opportunity to understand the full picture in one go.

I’ve known for a while that something hasn’t felt quite right with my health. I’m not sure I can pinpoint exactly when the exhaustion started, but I’ve definitely been guilty of ignoring it and hoping I’d feel better tomorrow. I've been dismissing the subtle signs like fatigue, poor sleep, a few more aches and pains, anxiety, and low mood as 'just getting older.'  But if it were our partner, a friend, or one of our children, we’d insist they saw a doctor. So why don’t we do the same for ourselves?

I knew it was time for a health reset when I was invited to book the EXTRA Health Screening at The Maxwell Practice in Henley-on-Thames and what an incredibly reassuring experience it was. My private health screen in Henley was gifted as part of this blog collaboration but I can honestly say it was worth every penny, and I would absolutely pay for it myself.

This is a gifted blog post.
woman wearing white jeans and stripe top undergoing a health check at the maxwell practice henley on thames
A private health check in midlife at The Maxwell Practice in Henley-on-Thames

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    Michelle ...

    ​Welcome to Fifty & Fab – a lifestyle blog to inspire and empower women over 50. I’m passionate about sharing insights on health, menopause, fitness, beauty, and style, tailored just for you!

    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 50s.  I started this blog in 2016 with the purpose of helping other women at this stage of life.  I’m delighted that my blog has grown to over 13k visitors per month.  Visit my Work with Me page and request my Media Kit for details of product reviews, blogging services and social media content creation.

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