Lifestyle Maven - The UK lifestyle blog for your fabulous 40s and beyond

Gin is the answer. What was the question?

April 18, 2018 184 Views 0 Comment

…Keep reading to win some gin… Family time I don’t think I’m alone in feeling a rush of relief when the kids returned to school after the Easter break. We had a fabulous holiday in Turkey – more on that later – but I hadn’t … [read more]

Fun Wisdom

The ten commandments of great sleep

March 16, 2018 1165 Views 2 Comments

You may think I’m slightly obsessed with sleep, having written about it several times on the blog already. But I revisit the subject today for good reason: it’s World Sleep Day, plus March is National Bed Month – which I’m celebrating with a well-earned nap. … [read more]

Food Fun

A break from technology: our digital detox

February 18, 2018 1003 Views 8 Comments

There is one subject we argue about more than any other in our house: Technology. Now C is at secondary school, he has his own phone. We reasoned that he needs it to keep in touch with us when he’s out with friends. We didn’t … [read more]

Beauty

My beauty heroes: the skin issue

February 11, 2018 1135 Views 2 Comments

It’s been a while since I posted about beauty. I’ve been working on my personal development, hence my focus on the ‘wisdom’ section of the blog. For several months I’ve been trying new skincare products. Some made promises they couldn’t keep, others caused trouble for … [read more]

Wisdom

How to sleep well

February 02, 2018 2016 Views 10 Comments

I have had many periods of poor sleep during my life. The biggest cause of sleep deprivation? Parenthood, obviously. Looking back, I know that I got away lightly with my kids’ sleeping patterns and that some parents suffer years of disturbed sleep with their … [read more]

Wisdom

If not now, then when?

January 25, 2018 1562 Views 8 Comments

According to new research by Bupa Health Clinics, most of us are slowly wishing our lives away. “I’ll be happy when…” If you reckon you’ll be happy when…that dress fits; you finally get around to joining the gym; you get a promotion – then you’re … [read more]

Wisdom

How to tame your inner demon

January 12, 2018 2860 Views 11 Comments

The demon in my head I have a voice in my head and she’s a real bitch. She’s a demon and she is very busy, chattering and chipping away at my confidence. She beats me up from the inside, keeps me dwelling on past events, … [read more]

Wisdom

2017 year in review – the highs and lows of a lifestyle blogger

January 01, 2018 1040 Views 2 Comments

The highs and lows of a lifestyle blogger I’m a bit late to the ‘review of the year’ party, but we only returned from our Christmas holiday in Dubai on 30 December, and my brain has been muddled by jet lag ever since. 2017 was … [read more]

Wisdom

Can you put a price on your health?

December 20, 2017 2354 Views 0 Comment

Every six months I take our car into the garage for a health check. It gets put through its paces, is subject to rigorous testing using all the latest technology and comes back purring. Our last service cost over £800. Ouch. I, on the other … [read more]

Beauty

The beauty bucket list

December 04, 2017 1785 Views 4 Comments

I was watching a video this morning of a blogger shaving off all her hair, not for charity, but because it was on her bucket list (a list of things she wanted to do before she ‘kicks the bucket’). Is that a strange thing to … [read more]

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Popular posts Wisdom

The blogging hierarchy

July 03, 2016 3675 Views 35 Comments

“What is a lifestyle blog?” This question comes up in my life a lot. Most recently, at two very different events. The first was at a networking event for all sorts of professions and the consensus around the room was one of blissful ignorance. Lifestyle … [read more]

Popular posts Wisdom

8 reasons to love (and hate) being self-employed

May 07, 2016 4050 Views 24 Comments

Two years ago this month, I quit my job of 11 years and walked away from two decades of full time employment, to start up my own business. That means that I’ve already been self-employed for 10% of my working life and feel like I’ve … [read more]

Fashion

My O bag makeover

December 13, 2016 7593 Views 19 Comments

With the expense of Christmas looming – I’m entertaining 13 people, more of that to follow soon – now is not the time to be obsessing about new handbags! But what’s a girl to do. I have a habit which must be fed. While sharing … [read more]

Fun Popular posts Wisdom

11 things only parents of boys will understand

March 01, 2016 3236 Views 18 Comments

Nothing prepares us for becoming a parent and looking after small children. Sure, there are practical manuals about caring for babies and toddlers; and then the psychology books take over, helping us get through those ‘difficult phases’. But no one in my immediate circle really … [read more]

Popular posts Wisdom

Why mid-life women are leaving their jobs in record numbers

July 19, 2016 5073 Views 15 Comments

Self-employed people: they’re everywhere. Opening up boutiques, or industriously working on laptops in coffee shops, or beavering away in their home offices. Of course, they had always been there, but I’d been safely tucked away in my office, busily not noticing them. Each new chapter … [read more]

Popular posts Wisdom

Life is short, eat the cake

April 03, 2016 2940 Views 14 Comments

I’ve been off the grid for over a week, while I try to process several devastating pieces of news from friends and family. I won’t go into details, to protect those who are more directly affected. Suffice to say, following a period of mid-life wallowing, … [read more]

Popular posts Wisdom

How to start a blog

October 05, 2016 2849 Views 14 Comments

Cat from Sorting Self, who organises personal development events for local mums in North London, invited me to give an informal presentation about blogging. The event was earlier this week. Despite having given several lectures on blogging and (ironically) presenting techniques to a group of … [read more]

Puppy love. Is having a puppy like having a baby?

February 10, 2017 2710 Views 14 Comments

I grew up with dogs. Shetland Sheepdogs were our breed of choice. They were lively, gentle, loyal and incredibly hairy (a bit like me – apart from the gentle bit). Whisky was my favourite. I teased him relentlessly, but he was my best friend. His … [read more]

Wisdom

Is Reiki a universal panacea, a placebo, or a scam?

July 11, 2017 3711 Views 14 Comments

Reiki – is it the panacea of all ills the human race has been waiting for, or just a harmless placebo? What is Reiki and does Reiki work? Reiki is an energy healing system, with its roots in Japan. The first time I had a Reiki treatment, … [read more]

Popular posts Wisdom

Is fear of failure paralysing you?

October 15, 2015 1221 Views 12 Comments

I’ve been meaning to tackle the issue of fear for a long time. I mean the sort of fear we feel in our professional lives, which prevents us from doing anything new or making changes to our circumstances, even when we’re unhappy continuing with the … [read more]

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