I'm off to Scotland at the end of April and I am told I need to plan my outfits for 'four seasons in one day' so even if it will be spring, the reality is that the weather in the Scottish Highlands is still going to be unpredictable.  We are going to be doing the NC500 and our trip will involve mostly outdoor activities including lots of walking, we will be exploring the beaches, the lochs, the hills and some towns and cities too.  Fortunately I don't need to worry about getting everything in a suitcase, we are driving to Scotland in our Ford Wildtrak so there will be a lot of space to throw in waterproof trainers, hiking boots, coats and warm layers!  There will also be a food cupboard, a portable fridge and still plenty of room for us!

This is a gifted collaboration.

If you read my previous post, where I shared life lately and updated you on my HRT implant decision, you'd have spotted that I have gained some weight and I'm not happy about it, whoever is?  But the older we get, the more frustrating it is as it is so difficult to lose weight in midlife, it's true, weight gain around the middle is a thing and not just our imagination!

​I thought weight loss was hard as I was approaching 50, but as I am now approaching 60, I am finding it even harder.  Willpower is my biggest barrier, I know I need to get better at saying no to the treats, less wine, less desserts, and less sugar!  The extra weight is affecting my confidence, I am strong, I lift weights and I have good muscle definition thanks to some hard work and help along the way with body sculpting treatments but I still want to be a bit smaller overall - my goal is to fit comfortably into my size 10 jeans again.

Then Feel got in touch and asked if I'd like to try their new Feel Pro Metabolic, a natural supplement for weight management and designed to curb cravings, boost energy and support a healthy metabolism.   So how does it work and can it really help with my weight loss journey?

​This is a sponsored blog post.
Get 20% off at Feel (all details below)

Life lately has been busy, full on, exhausting but all good ... we had a few days away in Tarifa in Spain (you can read my post about it here) which was a welcome few days of sunshine and downtime. 

​I am busy planning a road trip to Scotland, we are going to do (most of) the NC500!  The North Coast 500 is a 500+ mile route around the tip of Scotland, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful road trips in the world!  And I can't wait! We are going in late April so should be spring weather, expect lots of Instagram content and of course a blog post when I am back.  I had a mini panic last week, I really want to visit the Castle of Mey and we are staying in that area until 31st April but I found out it doesn't open to the public until 1st May!  Changing the itinerary was going to be difficult because accommodation gets booked up very early and part of our trip is a PR invite ... so I emailed the Castle of Mey and found out they are open for private tours!  Phew, all booked!

​So having been super-busy I've not had as much time as I would like to write on my blog, but I decided I needed to make time.  Taking up a lot of my headspace right now is the refurbishment of our 'spare room / my room / the dressing room' and my husband is working very hard to put in new fitted wardrobes (using the viral PAX hack from IKEA) and decorate. 

I am working very hard planning all the soft furnishings and choosing paint colours - pretty good deal, no I don't decorate!  The Cotswold Company has just opened in Marlow and it is gorgeous, I remember many many years ago dreaming of. being able to furnish my home from The Cotswold Company and although a complete re-furnish isn't in our budget, I am loving choosing my accessories, cushions, candles, pictures, baskets and more!

Menopause is a natural stage of life, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Hot flushes, night sweats, brain fog and mood swings are just some of the symptoms that can make this transition challenging. Many women look for natural ways to support their bodies during this time, and one option I've been sent to try is from Feel and it is their new Pro Menopause.

This daily supplement is designed to help manage menopause symptoms using plant-based ingredients and essential nutrients. I'm taking a closer look at what it offers and whether it could be the right choice for you.

This is a sponsored blog post.
Get 20% off at Feel (all details below)