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

Life hacks in the kitchen: 12 top tips for an easier life

October 07, 2018 100 Views 2 Comments

This post doesn’t really need much of an introduction. Who doesn’t love a life hack? Here are my favourites to make life easier in the kitchen. My pleasure. 1.The best way to clean your chopping board: rub a handful of salt around the surface with … [read more]

Fashion Wisdom

Are progressive lenses right for you? Everything you need to know.

September 26, 2018 129 Views 6 Comments

Channelling Dame Edna You may have seen on Instagram that I have some pretty funky new glasses. They’ve had almost unanimous praise. The only detractor is Mr Maven who thinks they’re a bit Dame Edna. Pah. This is a new look for me, and also … [read more]

Beauty Fun

Join The Age Well Revolution. Together we’re stronger.

September 07, 2018 155 Views 0 Comment

The invisible middle According to We Are Superhuman’s Invisible Middle Study, 70% of women in their 40s and 50s feel they are largely ignored by the mainstream media. We live in a society that values youth over experience, beauty over wisdom. The media projects an … [read more]

Food

Mango meringue pie, a simple recipe with only 5 ingredients

August 14, 2018 204 Views 2 Comments

I don’t consider myself a food blogger, but once or twice a year I’m approached to create a recipe in collaboration with a brand. I always have to check, and then check again, that the brand in question understands what an utterly lazy cook I … [read more]

Beauty

Why you should use a face serum and my pick of the best

August 03, 2018 295 Views 0 Comment

A couple of weeks ago, a friend took me discretely to one side to ask me what filler I inject into my face. I’ve never used a filler. I attribute my good skin to two things: genetics and the consistent use of high quality skincare … [read more]

What to do on a city break in Berlin – the 3 day itinerary

July 28, 2018 165 Views 0 Comment

Mr Maven and I have just returned from a three day city break in Berlin. This was our first holiday without the kids since our 10th anniversary trip to Rome several years ago. Why Berlin? Berlin has a reputation as a diverse city which has … [read more]

Fun Wisdom

How to be happy – 5 keys to happiness

July 15, 2018 217 Views 0 Comment

“Tell me what you want, what you really, really want?” said the life coach, channelling The Spice Girls. I took several deep breaths. I pondered some of the options: health; wealth; contented family; work/life balance; to look amazing in a bikini… Yes to all of … [read more]

Fashion

How to prevent double boob, side boob and other lingerie malfunctions

June 27, 2018 281 Views 2 Comments

Full service history I’ve had all my bits examined this month. The annual mammogram and breast clinic consultation has coincided with my long-overdue smear test, so I feel like I’ve undergone a full service. There was breast cancer in my immediate family. She’s well and … [read more]

Food

What’s hot in kitchenware, as seen at the Exclusively Housewares show

June 15, 2018 323 Views 0 Comment

The foxtrot The last couple of weeks have been like a foxtrot – slow, slow, quick, quick, slow. This has led to virtual silence on the blog (although lots going on over on Instagram if you’ve missed me!). Half term week was spent relatively calmly. … [read more]

Food

Succulent double salmon fish cakes

May 29, 2018 578 Views 6 Comments

The challenge of family cooking My kids are like chalk and cheese, in that one will like chalk and the other will like cheese. One likes art, the other science. One wants his eggs fried, the other scrambled. Marmite? Yup, you guessed it. Finding food … [read more]

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Popular posts Wisdom

The blogging hierarchy

July 03, 2016 4217 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 4599 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]

Wisdom

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

July 11, 2017 4983 Views 20 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]

Fashion

My O bag makeover

December 13, 2016 8599 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 3714 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 5952 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 3535 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 3293 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 3178 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]

Fashion Popular posts

5 tips to help you find your personal style

February 11, 2016 2825 Views 12 Comments

“I have nothing to wear”. How many of us start our day by muttering this under our breath? The experts say that we only wear 20% of the clothes in our wardrobes. I have been hoarding clothes for years and I reckon I only wear … [read more]

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Life hacks in the kitchen: 12 top tips for an easier life

Are progressive lenses right for you? Everything you need to know.

Join The Age Well Revolution. Together we’re stronger.

Mango meringue pie, a simple recipe with only 5 ingredients

Why you should use a face serum and my pick of the best

What to do on a city break in Berlin – the 3 day itinerary

How to be happy – 5 keys to happiness

How to prevent double boob, side boob and other lingerie malfunctions

What’s hot in kitchenware, as seen at the Exclusively Housewares show

Succulent double salmon fish cakes

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Welcome

Welcome to Lifestyle Maven, the midlife lifestyle blog.

Can we keep in touch?

Please support the blog

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