Being fifty and fab ... in September

Hello and welcome to my little monthly round up of what I have been doing to 'be fifty and fab' and the last month has been busy and fun but exhausting.  I think I will avoid the dreaded virus talk, that is driving me insane.  So how are you?  I really do appreciate every read and view and your support of my blog so thank you for stopping by and do get in touch if there's anything you'd like to see or ask me.  

I hope to inspire you with my regular chatter, with my outfit ideas and beauty and fitness thoughts.  It isn't my aim to be wearing unrealistically glamorous outfits every day that means you need to buy something new!  Rather that you might see something I have put together and be inspired to shop your wardrobe and find new outfit combinations.

In September my daughter went back to university, we visited her for a Sunday lunch, we still had amazing weather, I've only just started swapping my wardrobe over, I have started getting back to exercise, oh and my dad booked three holidays for next year, he's more optimistic than I am!

Read on though for more details, my latest news and some outfit inspiration!

Post-workout with Menu & MInd group and Bonnie unwilling to turn around to pose! Top is from Hey! Holla!

Exercising - well I am back to a bit more structure.  I have even tried out a beginners yoga class.  Mostly though I am slowly getting myself back into a routine by joining in with the 6-Week Kickstart Challenge set by the lovely ladies at Menu & Mind, so I have been walking and doing online workouts with them and others in the group.  This really does help with the accountability.  I have put a few details of the next Menu & Mind challenge at the bottom of this post in case you wanted to find out more.

Reading - I am so behind on reading, I have quite a collection of books I want to get to and I am just not sitting down enough.  I need to set myself a goal to at least read one book a month.  I've just started on 'don't bother to dress up' by Maly Sayle, I have been sent a review copy - so far so good!  Yesterday Amazon delivered my pre-order copy of Cilka's Journey, the sequel to The Tattooist of Auschwitz and based on a true story.

Just started this book, very easy and amusing read, I need light hearted or I can't concentrate!

Doing - well I am obviously not going out much and I am not booking holidays!  But I have been very busy.  Early in  the month I was helping my daughter get ready for her return to Bath, she is at a small private college studying for an Early Years Degree and to be a Norland Nanny.  I think the small college works in her favour given the current situation at universities and she seems very settled and actually quite happy to be back!  Quite a change from the homesickness of last year.  We went up to visit her the week after she went back, we'd managed to get a table at a pub we love in Bath and we took. my dad up to see her new house too.

Mostly though I have been enjoying the last of the summer weather.  I've been organising my clothes and with my son having vacated home to move into his own flat, I now have a spare room / walk in wardrobe / dressing room and I have loved getting this organised - you can see more on this post.  I've been able to use the time and space to have a really good declutter of my clothes.  Conclusion?  I have way too much.  Plan?  To buy less!  But more on that in another blog post, I am pretty sure I am not alone in that dilemma.

I was asked to comment on a blog post recently about 'socially distanced days out' and I just had to recommend my sister with her excellent tours of Oxford.  Heidi runs Walking Tours of Oxford and she is now back open, she can run tours of just 6 people and keep a distance.  She has offered my readers 25% off her bespoke tours and I will be sharing a full blog post next week.  But for now the code is fiftyandfab and you can find her website at Walking Tours of Oxford.

Enjoying the gorgeous viewpoint in Bath and trying out masks from Rudi Masks

Wearing - I have still been dressing up a bit at any opportunity!  I posted on Instagram this week saying I think we should celebrate just how lucky we were to have been able to wear summer clothes in the UK this year!  Normally my dresses end up only be used when we are away on holiday.

I got to try out some lovely cotton face masks (I'm still not mentioning the V word).  Love them or hate them they seem to be here to stay for a while so if you are still looking for something good then these are breathable, comfortable, kind to the skin and not too restrictive as some can be.  They are a very high quality cotton, handmade in Italy and they have a unique four (or six) layer built-in filter system.  And best of all they can be washed over and over.  They are from Rudi Masks and there are lots of different designs.

Lunch at the Hare & Hounds in Bath, so difficult to get a table as their Sunday lunches are amazing and view stunning. The little silver container is the 'Clean Wine' I tried out - details below

I wore a new Hush dress when we went up to Bath, it is the Rickie Chiffon Dress and although quite summery I think being black it will dress up nicely into the autumn.  It is also has the bonus of being a flattering, figure skimming style!

I took the opportunity to try out 'Clean Wine' in Bath.  I was sent a PR sample to use, basically it is a little container (see above) that you spray into your wine and it makes your wine sulphite free - which means no hangover (clinically proven to reduce hangovers for all wine types)!  Artificial preservatives are added to wine as part of the making process and it is these sulphites that are known to cause, and make hangovers worse, when drinking wine.  And apparently sulphites have a worse effect on those with asthma or women who are menopausal, yep don't I know it!  Now I am not suggesting you add this to your wine and drink more but it might be useful on the nights where it is difficult not to join in for a social glass of something.  I also really struggle to find an alternative to wine, it just feels so much more decadent to have a glass of my favourite Pinot than to have water or lime n soda!

This braided tote bag from Zara has been a handy little purchase, I spotted it online and at only £29.99 I have enjoyed using it with my late summer / and autumn outfits.  Jeans are rebound denim from French Connection and blouse is previous season from Hobbs.  As it gets cooler I will often just drape a cardigan over my shoulders in case I need it, it also adds a chic styling note to an outfit.  Uniqlo is good for basic cardigans in lots of colours!

My daughter and I enjoyed lunch out at The Coach in Marlow just before she went back to uni, we were lucky to get a table, it is now possible to book on the day, but it took me two hours to get through, I was amazed there was anything left!  I wore a previous season Mint Velvet dress, which I love for the autumn colour tones and my new trainers from Vionic.

Another couple of outfits featuring the lovely Zara bag but the rest is all from my wardrobe!  Above, the top is Jack Wills and the jeans are khaki coated denim from Captain Tortue and have been a really worthwhile purchase.  I wear them spring and autumn and in-between too and they go with so many tops.  And below, a previous season red dress from Zara which I love!  I also love sunny days!

Red polka dot dress from Zara (previous season) for a day out and about, wish I was going into London!

I really do recommend the Kensington shirt dresses from Hush, they are so easy to wear and mine are coming out year after year.  I size down, I have the red long sleeve one above and the black short sleeve one below.  I've styled it for a rainy evening with my black biker from All Saints and my silver cross body bag from Amelia Rose Accessories.   I wore the red one for a lovely lunch out with my friend Wendy from The Wendy House.

Below are few other autumn outfits - left to right .... gingham shirt with the lovely silver cross body bag again, a red stripe breton with navy and red accessories (I felt very red, white and blue in this) and a warmer day, probably last wear for my animal print jumpsuit until next year, the necklace is from a selection at The Wendy House.

I'm experimenting with the shorter strap on cross body bags, styling them like this has been all over instagram for a while but I am often late to the party as I was a bit unsure!

I'm back to doing my own photos with my trusty friend the tripod!  Well unless I am lucky enough to get my daughter at home and willing to help.

What is coming up ... well I will start making a few Christmas gift suggestions but this year I will mostly be focusing on decluttered gifting of experiences and time with family.  First up will be more details on the fascinating tours of Oxford.  Today I am off to have lunch at Strawberry Grove in Maidenhead so I can tell you all about that and their new online farm shop.  I'm also trying out Tropic products and making a comparison to Liz Earle which I have used for years.

Love from
Michelle xx


Disclaimer: if anything is gifted or has been previously gifted then i will let you know, otherwise most of my outfits are from my own wardrobe.

Menu & Mind - Jo and Anya, the lovely ladies behind Menu & Mind, are doing lots of planning and I wanted to give you a heads up for their next six week kickstart challenge which will be running in January 2021.  If you join the challenge you will also get a free trial of their membership programme.  Full details coming soon but if you want more info about taking the next step on your health journey then do email Jo here and she can add you to the waiting list.

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Is This Mutton
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​Nancy's Fashion Style
Fancy Friday

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