This wasn't a sightseeing break, or a busy walking holiday, it was simply an opportunity to see family who were staying nearby, escape the grey skies here and get some warmth on our skin, some brightness in our eyes and relax in the sunshine.  We booked three nights (wish it had been longer) to fit in around work commitments, we packed only cabin bags (unheard of for me), and booked an Airbnb with a sea view!  And it was fabulous, here is my mini guide to Tarifa on the Costa de la Luz in Southern Spain, including what I wore for our winter break.

I don't want to keep complaining about the dismal weather we've had this summer but seriously .... summer just never seemed to get going did it!?  I'm hanging onto my summer clothes for a while longer it's still warm during the day even if there is a distinct chill in the air in the early mornings and evenings and I have to add layers.  I'm yet to go on holiday however so I won't be doing the seasonal swap in my wardrobe for a few weeks yet.  It could mean my wardrobe is bursting a bit at the seams!

Cotton Traders asked me to style a couple of their designs for late summer transitioning into autumn and I chose their Stripe Tie-Front Jersey Top in Soft Coral (limited sizes now but also available in cornflower and dark aqua and the Long Sleeve Denim Shirt in Stonewash (unisex sizing so an oversized style on me).

This is a gifted blog post.

​Hello!  I've been making the most of a slower work schedule recently and catching up on life and blog admin.  Life admin has involved more cupboard decluttering, a bit of selling on Vinted, organising our itinerary for 11 nights in Tuscany in September and ​generally trying to deal with the backlog on my to do list.  Blog admin meant that I was able to add new photos to my website, make sure all my discount codes are up to date and working and even record some new video to share on Instagram in the coming weeks.  Go me, I don't think I've felt this organised in months (years)!  The menopause overwhelm has been full on and I'm still not completely happy with my HRT dosage but more on that when it all finally gets sorted!  I'm a good example that one size doesn't fit all and that HRT needs to be continually tweaked to get it right.

​This post is all about my favourite outfits so far this summer.  I use the term summer carefully, I mean it's not exactly been summery has it!?  So much of my wardrobe hasn't been touched, I'm hoping some of my pretty sundresses might get worn when we go to Italy.  It is my husbands 60th birthday in a couple of weeks so I thought a special holiday was required, he's also been working very hard recently and in need of a break.  We went to Venice for his 50th and for his 60th, we are spending three nights in Florence, four nights near Lucca and then the final four nights in the Chianti region.

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