Last week was full on but so much fun and so many new opportunities for me and my blog.  I posted some of my adventures on Instagram but as we are charging into autumn now and gradually moving from our summer wardrobe to our autumn wardrobe I thought it might be helpful to share some outfits posts and tell you a bit more about what I am wearing now.

I am not great at transitional dressing so if like me you need a bit of inspiration then you might find these ideas helpful ...

Friday - Lunch at The Waterside Inn at Bray with clients of my husbands business - this goregous dress is from Mint Velvet (Langley Print Midi Dress - online only) and I wore it with my new black Whitney ankle boots from Vionic which were gifted to me.

Monday - I was invited to a women's networking event run by Make it Your Business with a special guest - which turned out to the Theresa May, our Prime Minister.  She made such an inspiring and supportive speech.  I wore wide leg jeans from Boden (York Cropped Jeans, currently discounted) with a blouse from the new GP&J Baker range at H&M along with my Vionic mules (see more here).

Tuesday - I was back at the gym!  After a summer of indulgence (who didn't love a glass of something chilled in the garden during the summer heatwave) I am back to a healthier lifestyle and more exercise.  This gorgeous outfit was gifted to me from Asquith and I did a full review on my blog last week so do go and take a look, it is all made from ethical bamboo and organic cotton and it is seriously comfortable and breathable - perfect for yoga, pilates and living in!

Wednesday - I attended the Marlow Business Girls Network meet-up (above) and then in the evening I went to a fabulous style event (below).  During the day I wore black jeans from John Lewis & Partners, with a (previous season) blouse from Mint Velvet and black loafers from Moda in Pelle.  The change in weather means it is getting harder to take good photos - plus one of my westies wanted to join in!  I was looking up at the sky as it was so windy!

In the evening I chose to wear my new animal print blouse from Mint Velvet (Tessa Print Blouse) and was rather amazed to get over 1,000 likes on Instagram - a record for my little account.  It is their current best seller and I feel a gentle dip into the animal print trend which is currently everywhere.  My trousers are previous season Mint Velvet and are the 'paperbag' design, so a higher waist which is very flattering.  There are lots available on the high street / online, just search paperbag trousers - Boden have a similar pair here and currently on discount.  My shoes are from last year - John Lewis & Partners - own brand and are comfortable as long as you don't stand all night.

Thursday - I was interviewed live on Marlow FM (Mid-Morning Matters) about the event with the Prime Minister earlier in the week.  Below I am with one of the presenters and my friend Chloe Leibowitz - Inspiring Women and Karen Rosser from Inspire my Soul.  Read my interview with Karen here - she sells a gorgeous range of hand stamped, personalised silver jewellery.  I had rushed from my PT session hence the workout gear!

Friday again and I was desperate for a rest, needed to get my nails done, pop into the hospital for a routine ear appointment and return a dress to Zara so it seemed a good day to try out my new camo jeans from Gap which I picked up in London a few weeks ago.  I wore them with a cream jumper from Jigsaw (previous season) and a new ultra light down jacket from Mango, these are my favourite jackets for transitional dressing.  My trainers are my trusted Vionic pair - new styles here.

Saturday - I attended a workshop called 'Room for Calm' at The Rainbow Rooms in Marlow and then in the evening we were at a friends fundraising event.

And finally yesterday, Sunday we were invited up to Donington to see the British GT Championships.  We were the guests of Flick Haigh who was driving for Aston Martin and along with her co-driver, the favourite to win the championship - which they did!  And she was the first female driver to win too.  We had VIP tickets as Flick keeps her horses at my son's girlfriends dressage yard, but it also turns out that I worked for her father, ooh probably 25 years ago, when Flick was about 6, it's a small world.

I wore jeans with navy boots, a new jumper from Mint Velvet (hidden) with this lovely new scarf from Sweet-Bea (gift) which is animal print but with the added red detail which worked rather well with my cross-body bag from Aurora London and it is another ultra light down jacket, this is previous season from Uniqlo.  It was cold yesterday and the jacket didn't come off (hence no photo of the new jumper)!  I took an umbrella but we were so lucky that the clouds and heavy rain dispersed to leave a bright autumn day.

My busy month continues with some workshops, today Twitter and Wednesday SEO/Google, I am learning and enjoying the networking and new opportunities but it is hard to keep up with my day to day jobs and my blog!

Love from
Michelle xx
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Disclaimer: Some of my links are affiliate links which means that the brand knows you have come to their website from here and I may get a small commission if you buy something and keep it.  This small income goes towards the running costs of my blog so I am very thankful for every click. ​

I am very excited to have been given the opportunity to review this gorgeous range of ethical activewear from Asquith.  This is a brand that has only recently come to my attention but the benefits of bamboo clothing has been slowly coming onto my radar for a while.  

I adore their new autumn colours.  I chose the claret and pink with a hint of rust as well as a pair of black tie pants.  I was drawn to the style of the black pair as they can be adjusted for the shorter leg!  Being 'short' I do have a problem with this style but the Asquith Hero Tie Pants can be tightened at the bottom and therefore suitable for short and tall.

Benefits of Bamboo Clothing

Bamboo clothing in general but in particular bamboo exercise clothing appeals to me due to its ability to wick away sweat, it is breathable, soft and naturally anti-bacterial.  It is exceptionally comfortable to wear and suitable for sensitive skin.  It is also an environmentally low-impact fabric.

Asquith incorporate organic cotton into their range too.  Also a durable and breathable fabric that will not bobble, fade or stretch.  And like bamboo, feels amazingly soft against the skin.

Asquith say that once you have felt the softness of their bamboo activewear you will not want to take it off!  I agree, it is incredibly soft and comfortable as well as being very flattering.

Let's be honest - you can wear it for yoga, pilates or a gym workout but hey it is also fantastic as everyday 'athleisure'.  No exercise needed!  I am not a fan of relaxing in PJ's but I do love a lose pant or cosy leggings.  These bamboo yoga pants and yoga leggings definitely fit the bill.  In fact, it is Monday morning and as I do the final edits to this post, I am wearing the hero tie pants and pink top and yes I definitely love!

​Bamboo Yoga Pants 

First of all I chose the Hero Tie Pants in black (see photos above)  - because a girl always needs comfortable black yoga style pants in her wardrobe.  They have a very soft, elastic waistband that folds over so it is flattering and holds you in (I need that)!  They are so soft and drape beautifully.  The tie at the hem means I can pull them tighter and therefore adjust the length.  Perfect, I suspect these will become a wardrobe staple for relaxing at home, walking my dogs or even yoga!

Bamboo Yoga Leggings

Next I decided to try the new claret colour and chose the Move It Leggings (see below).  As I mentioned I am quite short (not quite 5' 3") and they are longer on me but not overly so.  They really are extremely soft and flattering and I doubt they will move much during a workout.  They will be put to the test later in the week when I finally get back to the gym.

Bamboo Yoga Tops

I chose the Balance Bra Top in claret and the Chi Racer Top in rust (see below) to go with both my hero pants and move-it leggings.  The bra top is very comfortable (I sized up) and I love the ruched detailing on the sides of the chi racer top. 

I added in the Long Sleeve Smooth You Tee in pearl pink to keep me warm!  It has lovely floaty puff sleeves and a wide waistband that can be worn on the hip.  I love it with the hero pants as it is also soft and drapey - and comfortable!

For yoga, pilates and living in ...
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Every item in their range complements each other, it is incredibly stylish with a beautiful seasonal colour palette.  Bamboo makes fantastic exercise wear due to its moisture wicking properties so I don't feel a desperate need to take it off, I can run errands on the way home!  I also think that the range would make a very stylish outfit to travel in - by car or by plane as it won't crease or look crushed and it will maintain it's freshness.  I wish I'd had it when we flew to Sri Lanka.

They have a good range of sizes too - starting at S and going up to XL.  I chose the S (M in the bra top) and everything fitted very well.  The leg length is longer but I didn't find it a problem.

​If you sign up to their newsletter online then you can get 15% off your first order, they also offer free delivery if you spend over £75 and all returns are free.

I am looking forward to getting lots of wear out of my Asquith items over the coming months, preferably in front of the TV and a log fire!

Love from
Michelle xx
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I was delighted to be invited to the Vionic Shoes A/W 18 launch event at The Haymarket Hotel, London recently.  It was such a treat as I love a day in London and it was especially lovely to be combining it with a fashion show, champagne and meeting many of my fellow bloggers who I have only seen so far on Instagram and not met in person.

I will admit to being a bit nervous but it turns out I was not alone, it always feels strange walking into a room and not knowing anyone but I was soon put at ease and got chatting to some familiar Instagram faces.

I chose to wear my Sosandar shirt dress (only size 10 left and in the sale now at £34.50) with my Vionic Syra casual trainers (similar styles available here).  My red handbag is the Gigi from Aurora London.  It was perfect for a wander in London and these trainers are seriously super comfy!

I had arrived in London about 3.30 pm in the afternoon and made my way to Oxford Circus for a quick wander around - well it has to be done and yes I did manage to buy a few bits which will be appearing on my Instagram and blog over the coming weeks.

The Haymarket Hotel is in a beautiful location right in the heart of the theatre district.  I fancy staying there now.  Vionic made us all feel very welcome, the room was stunning and the fashion show featured many of their new styles which will be appearing online over the coming weeks.

​Here are a few of my favourites:

Top left and right - the Ellis casual trainer £120 - it comes in tan and black and the zip can be worn fastened or undone, I tried them on and they stay comfortably on your foot with no movement at the heel, they are leather and feature the removable footbed.

Bottom left - this is the Codie casual trainer £120 and it comes in white (shown), black and taupe.  I love this style worn casually with leggings, skinny jeans or leisure wear.  So neat on the foot.  It was minimalist and stylish.  Also leather and also featuring the removable footbed.

And then bottom right - the Torri high top trainer £120 also love at first sight!  And it unzips at the side so no need to faff about with laces.  Leather and removable footbed, it comes in natural snake, navy snake and black.

​I'd love to own them all!

I was able to learn more about the brand.  Every pair of Vionic shoes features a supportive, podiatrist designed footbed.  They are designed to hug your arches and support your natural alignment.  They can help with many common foot complaints as well as aiding stability.

Their ethos : STYLE - IT DOESN'T HAVE TO HURT.

Which ticks all the boxes for me!  I want to be stylish and on trend but I do not want to have sore feet.  A few years ago I went to a wedding and my shoes rubbed my feet all day, I literally couldn't walk and I said never again would I wear heels for that long.  But now I can reconsider as Vionic have a stunning pair of kitten heel court shoes!  The Josie £120 comes in this natural snake as well as leopard print, navy, emerald green, black suede and black leather.  I tried them on, yes they are perfect!

Vionic have two types of footbed, one for their more casual flat shoes and sandals and another for their heeled shoes and sandals.  The FMT Technology in their flat styles are designed to align you from the ground up, they hug your arches and encourage natural alignment.  In many of their styles the footbed is removable (I only just learnt this) so you can put it in a different pair of shoes if you so desired!

I have just returned from a girls weekend away and it turned out one of my best friends had discovered Vionic a few years ago and commented on how much better they are for her feet, she suffers from plantar fasciitiis and her posture and back pain had really improved since wearing them.

​They are on the more expensive side but remember they offer a 30-day wear test should you not find them the most comfy thing ever and cost per wear they are amazing as I have worn and worn mine on repeat and they still look brand new.  Worth the investment in my opinion.

I was able to choose a pair from their new season range as a thank you gift for attending the event and writing this review on my blog.  I chose these silver Reagan Mules £110 (also come in black).  I figured they would make a great summer to autumn transition shoe before I need to wear socks and boots for months on end.  I am so delighted with them.  They are stylish and yes absolutely comfortable.
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I wore them last week for a shopping trip to IKEA so they were properly tested for you!  I styled them with a bargain top from the Gap sale (floral print top now £8.99) and my black wide leg trousers from Part Two / My Boudoir in Marlow, they are a heavy jersey and I love them, I am just venturing into the wide leg look and so far I am liking it (I tend to be a bit slow to follow a trend)!

What do you think?  Will you give Vionic a try?  I have just received a pair of black suede and neoprene Whitney ankle boots (they also come in grey) - they are a slightly higher heel but due to the comfort technology I am confident they will prove to be wearable, I will report back soon!

​There are many more new styles on their website (www.vionicshoes.co.uk) so do go and take a look!

May I ask a little favour? - I have just been announced as a Finalist (Beauty and Fashion category) in the Brilliance in Blogging Awards #BiBs2018 organised by BritMums and I wonder, if you enjoy reading my blog, would you pop over and vote for me please?  It is very easy - you can vote just in one category or more if you'd like - here is the link - Voting Form.  I am completely overwhelmed, delighted and surprised to find that I am a finalist!!  Thank you so much to everyone that supports me.  It really is appreciated.

Love from
Michelle xx

Last weekend I had a flying visit to Dartmouth with my daughter.  We left after lunch on Friday in the hope of avoiding the worst of the traffic but that wasn't to be and it took us 6 hours to get there!  Not good at all, I had wanted to get the train but as it was a fairly late decision to go, the tickets were too expensive (top tip - book 12 weeks in advance).

We stayed at Just B who provide the bed without the breakfast!  Good name!  The room was so central that we were literally just off the main shopping street and two minutes from the harbour and River Dart.  We were lucky to get a last minute reservation with it being summer and such fabulous weather, the room was quite small but we literally needed a bed and shower room so it didn't really matter.

Friday evening we had a very enjoyable dinner at Bayards Cove Inn and this is another good place to stay - they didn't have any rooms for our dates but my husband and his sister stayed there a few weeks ago and really liked it.

We started with breakfast on Saturday morning at Cafe Alf Resco because we could sit outside and watch the world go by!  And they are dog friendly and provide a little portion of sausage for their furry customers!

With it only be a flying visit we then decided to visit our favourite place nearby, Coleton Fishacre, a beautiful National Trust house and stunning gardens on the Kingswear side going towards Brixham.  We have been before when the children were younger and loved it so much, it was a treat to go back.  The gardens are full of colour and flowers, lots of interesting paths and secret corners to explore, and they lead down to the sea and the views are spectacular - a word of warning though, it is quite steep coming back up!  But it is worth it and do try and get to the second viewing point as well, you will be rewarded with the best view of the Devon coastline.

It is fairly easy to get to from Dartmouth, you can take the lower ferry over and drive but it will get busier in the summer holidays (expect queues for the ferry), you can get a bus but then it is a 30 minute walk down the lane to get to the house (not so good with children or in the heat) or we decided to get a taxi to take us door to door.  Parking spaces are a premium in Dartmouth during the high season and we didn't want to risk losing ours!

​Seriously how wonderful is this weather!  I wore shorts or a dress all weekend and din't need a jumper at all.  These are the Richmond shorts from Boden and I picked up this pair in the sale recently.  My blouse is from Hobbs last year, my bag is Accessorize and my trainers are from Vionic - take a look at my review here.

We then headed back into Dartmouth for a wander around the shops, there are many of the big chains like Jack Wills, Joules, White Stuff etc but also lots of individual shops which are worth a wander around, I loved Escape to the Coast and enjoyed chatting to the owner who had relocated from near us to Dartmouth and was loving it.

Dinner Saturday night was at Bushell's Upper Deck - my only requirement was that we eat somewhere with a view and wow what a view!  And the food and service didn't disappoint either, we asked for a window table and look what we got!

​Sunday was extremely hot and we thought a river trip would mean a cool breeze, it didn't!  But anyway, we took the ferry to Greenway to visit Agatha Christie's house.  As time was limited due to our drive home we didn't go into the house this time, we just walked through the gardens, we then got the little ferry across to Dittisham - very quaint, you ring the bell when you want to summon the ferry and it arrives to take you on the quick trip across the river.  There is a cafe at Dittisham, The Anchorstone Cafe, which has wonderful views but best to book if you can, it was too busy and we were unable to get a table, we will save that for another visit.  They do run their own water taxi though so worth considering as an alternative to the busy ferries in Dartmouth (call to book).

​On Sunday I wore a previous season beach maxi dress from Accessorize, with my silver bag from Accessorize (similar here) and my men's trilby from Marks & Spencer.
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Then sadly it was time to go home, we had a late lunch at Beth's Bistro - another absolute gem to recommend!

I am in love with Dartmouth, we have been visiting for many years as we have family that live nearby but this is the first time I have actually stayed in the town which was extra special.  There are so many gorgeous walks and places to visit - a walk to Dartmouth Castle is a must!  And the views along the coastline near Dartmouth are breathtaking.

Dartmouth is ideal for families and children, romantic weekend getaways, girls weekends, as well as a longer holiday to explore the whole area.  I want to stay at the Dart Marina Hotel if I get a chance another time!

Love from 
Michelle xx

PS Quick outfit post below - this top is from Hush and is so soft, cool, flattering, and floaty, it is cotton and I love it!  I wore it with jeans (below) but also denim shorts.  It isn't the cheapest at £65 but I think it will be a wardrobe staple for years to come - Hush Finsbury top.